Modane station in Savoie is one of ten crossing points where controls have been tightened since Italy’s refusal to allow the humanitarian ship Ocean Viking and its 230 migrants to dock. In retaliation, the French government therefore decided to deploy 500 additional police and gendarmes for controls at the Franco-Italian border.
Reinforced controls at Modane station
A check took place this Sunday, November 13 at Modane station, the first from Turin in Italy. Ten police officers were mobilized, four of whom came as reinforcements from the Lyon railway brigade to check the documents of the 450 passengers on this train Italian high-speed train linking Milan to Paris, arriving at Modane station at 5:50 p.m.
“We check the papers of all passengers, identity card, passport or residence permit and we check all the toilets and all the corners of the train” explains Captain Soulas, head of the general service of the border police (PAF) of Modane. He directs the 60 civil servants who carry out the checks. “It’s a lot of work to control a train like this, there are two teams in it and two teams on the platform, but thanks to the reinforcements it goes faster, it’s easier and we can control more documents.” .
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The Modane PAF has seen the arrival of seven police officers as reinforcements since last Friday: four additional staff from the Lyon railway brigade, a reservist from the operational reserve and two staff from the departmental directorate of the national police.
Seven police reinforcements at the Modane PAF
“These reinforcements really make it possible to reinforce our controls, it is more controlled world and with more safety” adds Captain Soulas. On the train this Sunday evening in Modane, several passengers who were not used to making this journey were very surprised by this reinforced control. “It’s weird to see so many police forces and in the European Union we are no longer used to being controlled at the borders“explains this young passenger. “It’s surprising, it’s clear, but I understand that these checks are carried out, it’s normal“adds this passenger.
© Radio France
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Melanie Tournadre
These reinforced controls are not necessarily unanimous. For this resident of Fourneaux, a town near Modane: “these people who arrive at our borders do so because they have no choice and to see that they are turned back, it hurts my heart, it really comes touch me in my humanity”. The municipality of Fourneaux welcomes migrants to the reception and orientation centre, undocumented men who arrived after the dismantling of the Calais Jungle in 2016 and this resident insists: “I’m not afraid of the other, it’s going very well in Fourneaux and it’s my duty as a citizen to help these migrants, I bring them clothes in particular“.
Reinforced control also at the Mont-Cenis pass
At the end of the check this Sunday evening at Modane station which lasted about fifteen minutes, an undocumented Macedonian passenger was escorted back to Italy. The day before, thanks to the reinforcements made available to the Modane PAF, a roadside check was also carried out at the Mont-Cenis pass: an undocumented woman from the Philippines was also arrested.