Illustration of a defense ball launcher (LBD) here during a demonstration in Nantes.

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S. Salom Gomis / SIPA

A weapon that has not finished arousing controversy.

A parliamentary report recommends the prohibition of the contested defense ball launcher (LBD) in demonstration, except in the event of "riot", and an increased follow-up of the investigations for police violence, among 35 proposals intended to improve the maintenance of the order.

In this report that AFP obtained on Tuesday, the National Assembly's commission of inquiry on the maintenance of order also recommends that the latter be entrusted only to specialized units (CRS and mobile gendarmes), to appoint an investigating judge automatically in the event of "illegitimate violence" by the police and to improve the supervision of the "police of the police".

"Generalize" the use of water cannons

The text, which is to be adopted Wednesday in committee, seems to take into account certain criticisms aimed at the police, accused of violence and obstruction of movement of demonstrators and journalists.

The government defends them for its part by highlighting the fight against "thugs".

The report recommends "prohibiting the use of LBD during crowd movements, except in cases of serious danger or riot".

And instead recommends, during “problematic demonstrations”, to “generalize” the use of water cannons.

About twenty people were reportedly stunned by LBD fire during the “yellow vests” demonstrations.

If it does not propose to dissolve the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN), the “police force”, sometimes accused of bias towards police officers, the report recommends “annual monitoring of disciplinary and judicial consequences” of its investigations, as well as those of the General Inspectorate of the National Gendarmerie (IGGN), and a strengthening "of the scope of proposals for (their) disciplinary sanctions".

He proposes to open the IGPN and the IGGN, including at the level of their directorates, "to external personnel", and to authorize their direct referral by the Defender of Rights.

It also proposes to "disorient the investigations so as not to have the local police investigate its own members", and to strengthen the training of police and gendarmes in the principles of maintaining order.

Adapt the national law enforcement plan

To strengthen the "responsiveness of the command" of the police during demonstrations, he recommends the establishment of a "single command" on the ground and to allow the "live use of the images captured by the pedestrian cameras". police forces ”and by drones.

He also advocates "reviewing the legal definition of the gathering" and adapting the national law enforcement plan, accused by many media of hampering press freedom, to allow journalists and observers to “Continue to observe law enforcement operations until they are completed”.

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  • Society

  • Demonstration

  • National Assembly

  • Police

  • Gendarmerie

  • LBD