French Authorities Impose Sweeping Ban on British Far-Right Activists
French authorities have announced a comprehensive ban targeting British far-right activists who were planning to participate in a protest against asylum seekers crossing the Channel to the UK. The prefecture in northern France issued this prohibition on Friday, extending beyond a previous ban by the French interior ministry that applied to ten unnamed activists associated with the organisation Raise the Colours.
Operation Overlord and the Ban Details
The ban, specifically from the Nord and Pas-de-Calais prefecture, aims to prevent activists involved in "Operation Overlord" from travelling to France this weekend. It comes into effect at 11pm on Friday evening and remains in force until 8am on Monday morning. Bertrand Gaume, the prefect of the Nord department, and François-Xavier Lauch, the prefect of the Pas-de-Calais department, have issued an interdepartmental order to enforce this prohibition.
In an official statement, the authorities explained: "For several months, the presence of activists from the British far-right movement, particularly the Raise the Colours movement, involved in actions of intimidation against migrants and humanitarian organisations, has been observed on the coast of Nord and Pas-de-Calais." They added that these actions, widely shared on social media, are rooted in a xenophobic and anti-immigrant ideology and pose a clear risk of public disorder.
Background of Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was initially launched by Raise the Colours, an anti-migrant group known for placing England flags and union jacks on lamp-posts. However, Daniel Thomas, an associate of the activist known as Tommy Robinson, has since parted ways with the group and is now leading Operation Overlord independently. Named after the Normandy landings on D-day in 1944, the operation has circulated appeals for equipment such as stab-proof vests, plate carriers, high-powered torches, thermal cameras, drones, and encrypted radios.
On Friday, Thomas posted on social media platform X, stating: "Last night I gave an update on the gathering in Dover and on British and English lads travelling to France on the 24th of January. What I need people to understand is this: some details must be held back until the very last moment, not out of secrecy for secrecy’s sake, but because of how important this is and what we’re trying to achieve."
French Authorities' Justification and Measures
The French prefecture emphasised that the ban was introduced to "prevent any confrontation or threat to public safety". It specifically prohibits the presence and gathering of self-proclaimed members of these groups in the districts of Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Montreuil-sur-Mer, and Lille. The statement further noted: "State services, particularly internal security forces, will be fully mobilised to ensure the proper implementation of this decree, with the aim of protecting migrants, who are often victims of exploitation by smuggling networks, and guaranteeing the safety of everyone on the coast."
Additionally, the authorities warned that British nationals belonging to these groups, if apprehended by law enforcement, will be returned to the border as quickly as possible.
Reactions from NGOs and Broader Context
Lachlan Macrae, of Calais Food Collective, an NGO supporting asylum seekers in northern France, welcomed the decision: "We welcome the decision by the French government to ban the actions of those involved with 'Operation Overlord'. The decision from France shows these people to be what we in Calais always knew them to be, far-right racist agitators who are intent on coming out to France to harass displaced people and threaten violence."
Macrae also highlighted concerns about the normalisation of such groups in the UK, stating: "These are British citizens whose movement, groups and rhetoric have been normalised by the British government. They pose a threat to the stability of the UK and are promoting violence and hatred in the UK too. The British government needs to take action against them and face up to the challenges of racism and hatred."
The Home Office has been approached for comment on the matter. In related news, so far in 2026, 931 people have crossed the Channel in small boats, underscoring the ongoing immigration issues that have sparked such protests.
