A British man is facing up to five years in prison for documenting police abuse of refugees in Calais.

Tom Ciotkowski, from Stratford upon Avon, was charged with contempt and assault in the region after he recorded and challenged a French police officer who had reportedly pushed another volunteer.

The 30-year-old, whose trial starts tomorrow at the Tribunal de Boulogne-sur-Mer in France, could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to €7,500 (£6,500).

Human rights group Amnesty International has called for all charges against Mr Ciotkowski to be dropped, branding them “unjust” and “emblematic” of harassment and intimidation faced by volunteers in northern France.

According to Amnesty, Mr Ciotkowski raised concerns about the behaviour of French riot police who were ID-checking volunteers trying to distribute food refugees, at which point an officer approached him and another female volunteer, who he hit with a baton.

Calais refugee camp evacuation Show all 15 1 /15 Calais refugee camp evacuation Calais refugee camp evacuation Refugees run past a fire in the makeshift migrant camp known as 'the jungle' in Calais, October 2016 AP Calais refugee camp evacuation French authorities say the closure of the slum-like camp in Calais will last approximately a week in what they describe as a "humanitarian" operation, October 2016 AP Calais refugee camp evacuation A painted message saying 'Bye Jungle' on a tent in the camp in Calais, October 2016 Getty Calais refugee camp evacuation Refugees set rubbish bins alight as a protest in the makeshift camp 'the Jungle' in Calais, France, October 2016 EPA Calais refugee camp evacuation French riot police advance through tear gas and smoke from a fire to disperse refugees throwing stones and lighting fires at the Jungle migrant camp Getty Calais refugee camp evacuation French CRS riot police secure an area on the eve of the evacuation and transfer of refugees to reception centers in France Reuters Calais refugee camp evacuation Journalists run away from smoke during clashes near a makeshift refugee camp known as 'the jungle' in Calais AP Calais refugee camp evacuation French CRS riot police secure an area on the eve of the evacuation and transfer of refugees to reception centers in Franc Reuters Calais refugee camp evacuation Migrants queue for transportation by bus to reception centres across France, from the 'Jungle' refugee camp in Calais Getty Calais refugee camp evacuation Refugees line-up to register at a processing centre in the 'jungle' near Calais, northern France, as the mass exodus from the migrant camp begins PA wire Calais refugee camp evacuation Refugees with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Calais refugee camp evacuation French far-right Front National (FN) party's member of parliament Marion Marechal-Le Pen (L) delivers a speech next to a banner reading "They arrive in Vaucluse, no migrants in our place" as she attends a rally against the hosting of refugees in La Tour d'Aigues Getty Images Calais refugee camp evacuation French police forces secure the area near the 'Jungle' refugee camp in Calais Getty Calais refugee camp evacuation Refugees leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Calais refugee camp evacuation Refugees carry their belongings and transfer to reception centers in France

When he asked the officer for his identification number, the officer reportedly pushed him and he fell backwards over a concrete barrier separating the pavement from the road.

Mr Ciotkowski was then arrested, put in custody for 36 hours and charged with contempt and assault, according to the campaign group.

Maria Serrano, Amnesty's senior campaigner on migration, said the case was "emblematic of the harassment, intimidation and attacks that human rights defenders supporting migrants and refugees face at the hands of police in Calais".

He added: "His case also reflects a wider European trend of criminalising acts of solidarity, as a way of discouraging others from standing up for human rights. Efforts by individuals and NGOs to help people in need should be lauded, defended and celebrated rather than criminalised.

"The outrageous charges against Mr Ciotkowski must be dropped – we need courageous, compassionate people like him more than ever.”

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