Increased investigations against police

Since the start of the student movement in late September, the National Police Inspectorate (IGPN) has seen a rise in the number of investigations assigned to it. Known as "the police's police," the IGPN handles internal investigations within the national police. According to the Ministry of the Interior, 24 investigations were open by the IGPN on October 9, related to acts committed by police officers during the student protests.

Investigations in Paris

In Paris, eight investigations were opened by the IGPN and two by the prefecture of police's ethics service, as stated by prosecutor Laure Beccuau on BFMTV. These followed incidents such as a knee strike filmed during a demonstration at the Place de la Bastille. A 31-year-old woman filed a complaint regarding sexual assault during a student demonstration in Paris.

Dual investigation areas

The IGPN operates in two areas: judicial and administrative. Judicial investigations are initiated by the prosecutor of the Republic or an investigating judge, while administrative investigations are conducted based on instructions from the Minister of the Interior or other officials. After completing its investigations, the IGPN proposes sanctions but does not impose them itself.

Limited scope of the IGPN

The IGPN is tasked with handling "cases of particular gravity, complex or sensational," according to a 2014 report. However, the NGO Flagrant déni noted that the IGPN handles only about 10% of criminal investigations targeting police officers, with most cases assigned to departmental "ethics cells." These are described as "black holes" by the association, which focuses on the rights of victims of police violence.

Rising number of investigations

According to the 2025 annual report, 1007 judicial investigations were recorded, a 10% increase from 2024. Olivier Cahn, a law professor, said the IGPN is no longer equipped to handle this volume of complaints. The IGPN has 264 agents, with only 42% assigned to investigations. The use of force by police officers was the leading cause of investigations, accounting for 32% of cases.

Other investigation reasons

The second most common reason for investigations was breaches of integrity, such as corruption or illegal interest-taking, accounting for 23% of cases. The IGPN also investigates weapons use, forgeries, thefts, racist insults, and moral or sexual harassment. Created in 1884, the IGPN was historically led by police officers, raising concerns about its independence.

Calls for reform

The Council of Europe recommended reforming police and gendarmerie inspection bodies to improve their independence and impartiality. The National Council of Bars (CNB) noted that the IGPN head remains under the Ministry of the Interior's control. The CNB suggested a parliamentary mandate to ensure greater independence. In 2021, President Emmanuel Macron proposed a parliamentary body to oversee police actions, but it has not been created five years later.