French police authorised to use water cannon on asylum seekers in £660m deal with UK

Police use water cannon in Sandyknowes, Belfast, last week. Officers in Northern Ireland have access to six of the devices. Photograph: Hannah Al-Othman/The Guardian

French riot police deployed in northern France under a £660m deal with the UK are authorised to use water cannon against asylum seekers, the Guardian has been told.

Two specialist policing units, including a 50-officer riot squad, have begun working to prevent asylum seekers and people smugglers from launching small boats under the UK-France deal in time for the summer months.