Refugees offered five-day reprieve in church sit-in

FRENCH government officials yesterday offered a five-day “reprieve” to a group of refugees staging a sit-in at a French church over the closure of the Sangatte holding centre to new arrivals.

Michel Heuze, sub-prefect of the Pas-de-Calais region, told reporters outside the church of St Pierre-St Paul in Calais that the refugees would be allowed to stay in the northern port city until the weekend.

During that time, they would not be arrested on immigration offences but would then have to apply for refugee status in France or risk deportation.