Incident images spread across media

Images of burned trash cans are appearing frequently on television, while videos showing students being detained, beaten, or seriously hurt by police are widely shared on social media platforms.

Sociologist highlights police repression

Sociologist Sebastian Roché, writing for Bondy Blog, points out that law enforcement is becoming more aggressive and that this is linked to political decisions. He notes that the current student movement has led to many injuries and arrests, with such repression affecting a large number of young people in a short time.

Injuries and detentions underreported

Roché mentions that the injuries among protesters are significantly underreported because the Interior Ministry has no requirement to track them and does not make an effort to do so. The government is trying to minimize the situation's impact by focusing on the number of injured police officers, even though the true extent of their injuries is unclear.

Detentions exceed previous records

The number of detentions has surpassed 6,000, which is more than the 3,800 detentions that occurred during the riots after the death of Nahel in June 2023. Roché suggests that these detentions are not based on legal grounds but are instead used for crowd control and as a political achievement, symbolizing the "good police."

Hardening of law enforcement

Roché notes that the increased use of force by police is part of a long-term trend. The first signs were seen during Nuit debout in 2016, when the use of LBDs (defense ball launchers) was reported. Under previous Interior Ministers, the use of RIO (identity and organization reference) was relaxed, forfaitary delict fines were introduced, and the use of projectiles during non-compliance was allowed. These measures have been intensified under President Emmanuel Macron.

Interior Minister refuses to moderate

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has not issued any directives to moderate the use of intermediate weapons, a stance that no previous Interior Minister has publicly taken. During the Yellow Vest movement, Nuñez had no regrets about injuries and has shown no regret recently, despite four injured individuals in fifteen days.

Minister holds responsibility for police actions

Roché attributes the police violence to Nuñez, who is responsible for the framework in which the police operate. Nuñez suspended the use of sound grenades after one was suspected of tearing off a student's hand in Lens, indicating his accountability. The ministerial instructions classify certain groups as dangerous and others as patriots, with students currently being labeled as enemies of the state.

Students targeted to hinder political movement

Roché suggests that students are treated this way because their mobilization interferes with political strategies, and some claim the movement is a manipulation of youth by La France insoumise. The government does not address the demands and does not consider them at all, labeling young people as enemies of the state because their mobilization could influence political change.

Police use of weapons under scrutiny

Some police actions appear to violate the rules regarding the use of weapons, such as the LBD shot that injured a teenager in Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône, fired at very close range. Roché notes a deliberate disregard for the law from the top of the hierarchy down to the lowest ranks.

Government denies police violence

The government denies the existence of police violence, and ministers are in denial about the reality of police actions and the rules governing them. There is a national order maintenance plan that requires police to use weapons in accordance with the law, but there is an increase in irregular uses, including the prohibited use of tear gas among cars or against protesters who have fallen to the ground.

Disregard for legal and procedural guidelines

The use of RIO by police is not respected despite a recent injunction from the Council of State, and the use of balaclavas, which are normally prohibited, is also observed. Roché criticizes the gap between the government's communication and the reality of police interventions, pointing out a strategy of ignorance by the Interior Ministry, which claims the police are not racist, not violent, and have no disproportionate behaviors.

Public access to documentation of events

This narrative appears to ignore the reality that the public has access to social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, where such events are widely documented.