Police violence: Valls denounces those "who seek to bring down the police institution"

INTERVIEW

While the videos of the beating of producer Michel Zecler have revived the debate around the issue of police violence, Manuel Valls refuses to use this term.

If he condemns the police officers involved, and calls for sanctions, Manuel Valls "rejects" the expression "police violence", and fears that, in this debate, "we are trying to bring down the police institution". 

>>

 Find Europe evening weekend in podcast and replay here

Why does the one who was also Minister of the Interior refuse to use the term "police violence?"

"There is police violence, there are police officers who behave badly, and who must be excluded. But to speak of police violence would mean that behind, there is state violence," replied Manuel Valls.

However, he adds, "the vast majority of police officers feel soiled by the facts which have just occurred".

"Attacking the institution is particularly dangerous"

"It should be remembered that the majority of our police are republican and respectful of the law," insists Manuel Valls, who expresses his "annoyance" at certain trials made against the police.

"I see, that new, all those who had to back down because their theses were contradicted because what was happening in terms of violence, in the face of Islamism, those who constantly challenge authority, many are in the street to explain that the police institution is violent ".

And to continue: "What I fear is that in this debate and this crisis of confidence, we are trying to bring down the police institution". 

"As much I think that we must sanction without hesitation those who do not respect the law, I also say that attacking this essential institution that is the police, it is particularly dangerous".