"Zones without identity checks": the proposal of the defender of rights badly received
Friday, Claire Hédon recalled that her authority had long requested that "experiments" be carried out in certain neighborhoods, such as stopping identity checks.
REUTERS / Benoit Tessier
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Why not experiment with areas without police control to avoid the multiplication of discriminatory identification requests?
This proposal by the defender of rights at the end of last week sparked controversy and many criticisms.
Claire Hédon clarified her thoughts on Tuesday, February 16.
Which did not completely convince the National Assembly.
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“
A legal enormity, a democratic fault which stems from political irresponsibility.
“Eric Ciotti did not have enough harsh words, Tuesday, February 16, to qualify the proposal of the defender of rights, Claire Hédon.
Out of the question for the deputy Les Républicains (LR) to withdraw any prerogative from the police, even on an experimental basis.
"Experiments"
The defender of rights defended Tuesday the need to reduce the number of "
discriminatory identity checks
" to improve the relationship between the police and the population, in response to criticism from police unions.
After arousing controversy last week, Claire Hédon explained that she did not want to prohibit checks but ensure that they are really justified.
Friday, Claire Hédon recalled that her body, which observes in particular the respect for the ethics of the security forces, had long requested that "
experiments
" be carried out in certain neighborhoods, such as stopping identity checks, which may become
“
Unbearable for some young people
”
.
In the majority, the idea was hardly better received.
Sacha Houlié, elected La République en Marche (LaREM): “
That there is sometimes awkward, even disproportionate, use of identity checks, everyone is realizing it, he
concedes.
But you can't replace one excess with another.
Just because there are too many checks does not mean that we should no longer do them.
"
An idea difficult to defend
For the Communist deputy Pierre Dharréville, the idea is also difficult to defend.
Even if he too is challenged by the question of repeated checks: “
It raises a real question about these identity checks which, for years, have been the subject of debate in our country.
I think that's what Claire Hédon meant above all.
"
Because the figures are worrying, as Eric Coquerel of the group La France insoumise reminds us: “
95% of identity checks lead to nothing.
In addition, they are discriminatory since depending on whether you are racialized or not, you are twenty times more likely to be controlled.
On the other hand, I am not for zones, like that without control, I will be for the receipt of identity control.
"
The receipt formally opposed by the majority, preferring to
bet on the cameras
which the police will soon be equipped with and which are supposed to reduce abusive controls.
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