Guillaume Dominguez 11:34 am, March 30, 2023, modified at 11:35 am, March 30, 2023

After the violent clashes between police and demonstrators in Sainte-Soline this weekend, the IGGN was seized to investigate the behavior of gendarmes present on the spot. But what is IGGN? Europe 1 takes stock.

Five days after the demonstration against the mega-basins in Sainte-Soline, the attitude of the gendarmes is controversial. During clashes with demonstrators, gendarmes responded with defensive ball launchers (LBDs) fired from a quad. A policing technique is prohibited in this situation. So, the prosecutor's office seized this Wednesday, the IGGN to conduct the investigation. But what is IGGN? Europe 1 takes stock.

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If the IGPN is the police of the police, the IGGN is the gendarme of the gendarmes. The mission of the General Inspectorate of the National Gendarmerie (IGGN) is to ensure that soldiers responsible for maintaining law and order carry out their missions in accordance with ethical rules.

Self-defense or abuse?

In case of report, it is she who leads the internal investigation, as in Sainte-Soline, after gendarmes fired LBDs from a quad. The administrative investigation must clarify the conditions of use of the equipment, says the gendarmerie in a statement. And above all to define whether these LBD shots took place in self-defense or if it is an abuse.

Because the law authorizes the use of LBDs by the police, only in two situations: either to disperse a group of demonstrators, or in case of direct danger to the agents.