INTERVIEW
In the context of a worldwide movement against racism, in particular on the part of the police, this is an inevitably awaited report. Europe 1 revealed on Monday the annual report of the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN), which shows a 23.7% increase in the number of investigations, more than half of which relate to violence. "It is a yellow vests effect and an effect of more significant referrals from the public prosecutor's offices", an exclusive analysis on Monday morning Brigitte Jullien, the director of the IGPN, on Europe 1. "It is also a consequence of the IGPN, recognized by the public prosecutors, who seized us on these cases of violence committed during the maintenance of order. "
>> READ ALSO - Europe 1 unveils the details of the IGPN annual report
With the general public, the IGPN is sometimes accused of laundering a maximum of attacked police officers. "The IGPN does not sanction, does not judge. The IGPN works factually, it works on facts, it makes inquiries. It is the hierarchical authority which sanctions. It is the magistrates who judge and who condemn. Say that the IGPN whitens, it is to insult these police officers who work professionally within the IGPN ", reacts Brigitte Jullien. "The IGPN is at the disposal of the public and the population to shed light on the actions of police officers. Seize us, because we have proven that we do not keep the police officers who are not worthy to be with us . We don't refuse any complaints, and we take all complaints. "
>> Watch Matthieu Belliard's morning show in replay and in podcast here
The report shows 1,460 judicial investigations opened last year, compared to 1,180 procedures in 2018, an increase of 23.7%. "Of the allegations of willful violence, we have 868 cases out of 1,460 court cases, or 59% of the cases. It is true that more than half of our legal cases relate to this," said Brigitte Jullien. "Admittedly there were the yellow vests, but gradually, in the demonstrations, even if they were important, there was less use of the weapons made by the police", she notes all the same.
"It is not because there are people who slip ..."
As for direct referrals from citizens, "the complaints most often cited on the reporting platform are behaviors deemed brutal, by 32%, which is on the rise. The lack of respect for courtesy is 20%, often it’s during roadside checks. And the refusal to take a complaint, the lack of consideration of victim status, that’s 15%, that’s down, "said Brigitte Jullien.
Finally, the accusations of racism going back to the IGPN remain marginal. "In 2019, we had 30 judicial investigations into accusations of racism. But even if the IGPN has only thirty judicial investigations in this area, all cases of this nature, most of the time are handled by the local hierarchy ", explains the director of the police force. "I think the minister has been very clear on this. These behaviors are not acceptable. But it is not because there are people who slip that the national police must be judged on these slip-ups", concludes Brigitte Jullien.