Police Oversight Under Fire as Report reveals ‘Judicial Scandal‘ in Handling of Protest Cases
PARIS – A new report by an unnamed NGO alleges a systemic lack of accountability in investigations conducted by the Inspection Générale des polices Nationales (IGPN), France’s police oversight body, regarding injuries sustained during protests. The findings, presented this week, detail numerous cases where investigations yielded no results despite clear evidence, leaving victims feeling ignored and fueling calls for independent oversight.
The report highlights a pattern of investigations closing without action, even when judges have identified potential perpetrators.This opacity, critics say, effectively denies victims legal standing and perpetuates a cycle of impunity. The surge in protest-related injuries in recent years-particularly those involving controversial law enforcement weapons like LBDs (launchers of tear gas and dispersal grenades)-has amplified concerns about the thoroughness and impartiality of internal investigations.
Mélanie N’goye-Gaham, injured during a 2019 demonstration, expressed her frustration with the IGPN investigation into her case, stating it “gave zero” results despite a judge identifying two potential shooters. “Receiving a classification without further action is a second blow,” she testified. Vanessa Langard, whose face was broken by an LBD shot on the Champs-Élysées in 2018, echoed this sentiment, saying, “We still don’t have victim status, we don’t exist. We are numbers.”
The NGO contends that self-regulation within the police force is insufficient and is urging parliamentary intervention. ”The ball is in the parliamentary court,” stated Lionel Perrin of the NGO, calling for a commission of inquiry and the creation of a fully independent oversight body.
Several left-wing parliamentarians-including Danièle Obono, Thomas Portes, Sandra Regol, and Corinne Narassiguin-attended the report’s presentation, alongside Céline Roux, deputy of the Defender of rights. Abdelkader Lahmar, a deputy from La France Insoumise, expressed his readiness to “dig” into the legislative track, noting the ancient invisibility of victims in such cases.
The report arrives amid growing scrutiny of police conduct in France and increasing demands for greater transparency and accountability in law enforcement. The call for an independent oversight body reflects a broader push to address systemic issues within the police and ensure justice for those injured during protests.
Source: Le Nouvel Obs with AFP