Legal bid to block UK-backed French migrant detention centre

A French migrant detention centre near Dunkirk, intended to support a 660m agreement to reduce illegal English Channel crossings, is facing a legal challenge. The UK will only contribute money once the facility is opened, and funding from a 160m pot would be withdrawn if the deal does not deliver proven results within its first year. The centre is under construction in the Loon-Plage area and is expected to be operational by the end of the year. Building may continue during the legal process, but French legal experts say the building permit could be revoked if the challenge succeeds. Legal challenges in France often slow openings rather than stop them entirely. The French government has not provided details on ongoing costs.

"A new French migrant detention centre the UK has offered to help fund is facing a legal challenge that could hamper a 660m deal to tackle illegal crossings of the English Channel. The lawsuit could delay the opening of the centre, which the UK has only agreed to contribute money towards once the facility near Dunkirk has opened. The Home Office said funding for the centre from a 160m pot would be withdrawn if the deal was not delivering proven results within its first year."

"The new detention centre in the Loon-Plage area is under construction and the Home Office said it was expected to be operational by the end of this year. While building work can continue during the legal challenge, French legal experts told the BBC the facility's building permit could be revoked if the lawsuit was successful. But delay is more likely as legal challenges often slow down the process of opening migrant detention centres in France, rather than stopping them entirely."

""France has committed to building this detention centre," a UK government spokesperson said. "The UK will only pay when the work is completed." The French government has not responded to the BBC's requests for comment. The ongoing costs of building and running the new detention centre have not been revealed by the French government."

"France's Ministry of the Interior was granted a permit to build a detention centre with the capacity to hold 140 people in July last year. Flemish-Artois Coastal Environmental Defense Assembly, an environmental group known"

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