- Christophe Castaner presented several measures on Monday to combat racism in the national police, including the "systematically envisaged" suspension of the suspected police officers.
- For the second union of peacekeepers, the suspension of officers on "suspicion" is "not acceptable".
- The Minister of the Interior also announced the prohibition of arrest techniques implicated in the death of Cédric Chouviat in January in Paris.
In a context of questioning of the police, the Minister of the Interior decreed this Monday "zero tolerance" against breaches of ethics in the police. “Systematically envisaged” suspension of police officers suspected of racist comments or acts, prohibition of certain methods of arrest deemed to be dangerous, reform of the inspection services of the Ministry of the Interior… Christophe Castaner announced several measures while “the wrath of Minneapolis has spread to all continents, "he said in reference to the death of George Floyd.
20 Minutes interviewed Olivier Hourcau, number 2 of the union of peacekeepers Alliance national police. The police chief in particular fears suspensions of officers "on rumors".
Christophe Castaner spoke today about the ethics of the police, in particular on the issue of racism and certain intervention techniques. What did you think of his intervention?
The Minister of the Interior is in his role: faced with the emergency and at the request of the Elysee Palace, he had to take the floor to respond to criticism. We heard his support for those who stigmatize the police. There were high expectations at this level, it is so complicated today for our colleagues to exercise their profession. Today, the police are questioning their missions, they are systematically questioned and filmed.
Christophe Castaner asked in particular “that a suspension be systematically considered for each proven suspicion of acts or racist remarks”. What do you think ?
The Minister of the Interior spoke of "proven suspicion". The semantics are important: for us, the term "suspicion" is not acceptable. Either the facts are known and the suspension procedure is initiated, or it is not the case and the police have, like any citizen, the right to the presumption of innocence.
This device must not lead to abuses and the police should be suspended on rumors, fake news or videos posted on social networks. I also point out that the suspension is already pronounced when the facts are serious: the prefect of police, Didier Lallement, suspended the police behind racist comments in Ile-Saint-Denis last April.
Concerning the techniques of arrest, he announced several measures on the proposal of a mission carried out after the death of Cédric Chouviat, in particular the technique known as "strangulation" which would henceforth be prohibited. In addition, "if a police officer or a gendarme must keep someone on the ground during his arrest, he will now be prohibited from leaning on his neck or neck".
These techniques, used for a very short time, are only intended to allow handcuffing of a recalcitrant person. These are exceptional gestures but useful when there is a difference in morphology, for example. We hope that this will be accompanied by work on the part of trainers in intervention techniques to replace what the Minister has prohibited. Otherwise, it's Taser or pugilat!
The minister also announced a reform of the police and gendarmerie inspections for more independence. Do you think it was necessary?
No, for us, there was no need for such a reform. Who better than the police can investigate police? Investigations are conducted impartially by people who know the business. The general inspectorate of the national police (IGPN) can moreover be seized by the hierarchy of the civil servant, by the prosecutor in the case of a judicial inquiry, and even by the citizen via the platform of denunciation on the site of the ministry. inside. And the policeman who made the mistake is punished to the height of his fault, with a whole arsenal already planned.
Society
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Politics
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- George Floyd
- Racism
- Police violence
- Christophe Castaner
- Society
- Police