British far-right activists are escalating a campaign of harassment and intimidation against asylum seekers in northern France, with aid groups warning that hostile rhetoric in mainstream UK politics has emboldened the groups.
‘Emboldened’ Activists and a Surge in Hostility
The situation has deteriorated markedly over the last 18 months. French aid organisation Utopia 56 recently highlighted chilling graffiti near a camp in Dunkirk, featuring a hangman's noose next to the word "migrant" and a Jewish Star of David surrounded by swastikas. The group blamed the normalisation of extreme-right discourse for the "visible, unapologetic, unabashed hatred".
Lachlan Macrae of the Calais Food Collective stated that activists are now a common sight. "The reason why they’re coming out and doing this stuff is because they’re emboldened," he said, detailing how water containers have been stabbed or contaminated with soap. "Far-right groups in Calais are the norm now."
Operation Overlord and a Far-Right Rivalry
The activity intensified in November 2024 with the launch of ‘Operation Overlord’ by the Birmingham-based group Raise the Colours. The initiative, named after the D-Day landings, involved trips to France to "stop the boats". Key figure Daniel Thomas said the mission was "for our grandfathers, for our families and above all for our children".
The group circulated appeals for equipment including stab-proof vests, drones, and encrypted radios, recruiting via an online form. They have livestreamed harassment of asylum seekers and posted videos showing deflated dinghies they claim to have slashed, though NGOs suggest the boats were already abandoned.
The landscape has since fractured. Daniel Thomas has split from Raise the Colours and continues 'Operation Overlord' independently, while the original group has rebranded its French activities as 'Operation Stop the Boats'. This new rivalry may increase headaches for French authorities.
Ineffective Bans and Continued Crossings
Last week, France's interior ministry banned 10 unnamed far-right activists associated with Raise the Colours from French soil. However, the group claims to have recruited 22,000 supporters, raising questions about the ban's effectiveness, especially as it does not apply to others.
Other groups remain active. UKIP, under leader Nick Tenconi, has a "border protection mission". Tenconi was filmed in June shouting abuse at asylum seekers and, on another visit, shining torches in the faces of people sleeping outdoors while chanting "you shall not pass".
Despite the intimidation, the campaigns have failed to deter Channel crossings. More than 41,000 people crossed in 2025, the second-highest annual figure on record. So far in 2026, 520 people have made the journey in nine boats, a significant number given poor winter weather.
Steve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais, condemned the actions: "The vile harassment and threatening behaviour of these far-right actors is appalling, but let’s be clear, they’re achieving nothing other than gathering social media views." The UK Home Office declined to comment on whether action is being taken against the activists, instead highlighting its work with France to stop crossings.
