Six lawyers have filed a complaint and alerted the National Police Inspection General (IGPN), "in order to establish responsibility," regarding "police violence of particular gravity" against several high school students involved in school blockades in Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-d'Oise. On Sunday, September 27, the six lawyers issued a statement to denounce "scandalous police violence" against several high school students in Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-d'Oise. These incidents occurred during protests related to school blockades, a form of student activism often used to demand changes in education policies or to express dissatisfaction with school conditions.
In Saint-Denis, high school students report violence committed both at the time of the arrest and within the police station. The six lawyers report the case of a 15-year-old boy, "who arrived at the police station with a bloodied face." According to his testimony, police "crushed his face to the ground" while he was already injured on the face, "he received several slaps inside the police station" and "he could not be examined by a doctor until six hours after the start of his detention." These accounts highlight concerns about the treatment of minors in police custody and the lack of immediate medical attention.
Another student, aged 16, reports having received "a punch to the stomach" at the time of his arrest, "then a slap at the police station." A third high school student claims "he was hit inside his cell." Police allegedly told him: "Shut up," "The more he talks, the more I want to hit him." These statements, if proven, could indicate a pattern of abuse and intimidation by law enforcement against minors during detention.
The lawyers announced that they have filed a complaint and alerted the National Police Inspection General (IGPN) and the Public Prosecutor's Office, "in order to establish responsibility." Their actions aim to investigate whether the police exceeded their authority and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable for the alleged misconduct. This case has drawn attention to the broader issue of police behavior during student protests and the treatment of minors in custody.
Lawyers Report Police Violence Against High School Students in France
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