Gérald Darmanin Addresses Growing Unrest Among Police Officers

Gérald Darmanin, the French Minister of the Interior, has broken his silence regarding the growing unrest among police officers. In a visit to a police station in Paris on Thursday, July 27th, Darmanin expressed his understanding of the emotions, anger, and sadness felt by the police. He emphasized that police officers should not be the only individuals in France who are presumed guilty instead of innocent. However, he also stated that when a police officer makes a mistake, they should face consequences.

Darmanin highlighted the additional challenges faced by police officers, such as insults and vilification from political parties and the media. He mentioned that these negative perceptions, combined with fatigue, can lead to emotional distress and sadness among the officers. Darmanin also clarified that currently, less than 5% of police officers are on sick leave.

Darmanin's Response and Key Demands from Police Unions

During the meeting with police unions at the Ministry of the Interior, Darmanin announced that he would soon visit Marseille to meet with the disgruntled police officers there. This decision comes after a week of silence from the minister following the detention of a police officer from the Anti-Crime Brigade (BAC) in Marseille on charges of police violence during recent riots.

The detention of the officer sparked a limited but politically significant protest among police officers. Despite Darmanin downplaying the impact of the protests, it is considered the most serious internal crisis he has faced since taking office three years ago. Darmanin met with the unions alongside Laurent Nuñez, the Prefect of Police in Paris, and Frédéric Veaux, the Director-General of the National Police.

Darmanin pledged to address three key demands from the unions: general anonymization of police reports to protect officers' identities, a special regime for provisional detention for officers under investigation, and improved state-provided functional protection for police officers.

The Challenges Faced by Police Officers and the Need for Support

Marc La Mola, a former police officer turned writer, believes that the current mobilization of police officers reflects their exhaustion and the increasing violence they face while maintaining order during protests. La Mola co-authored a book titled "I am a Cop and Tonight I Will Commit Suicide," which sheds light on the challenges faced by police officers.

La Mola describes a growing hatred towards police officers and a desire among some individuals to harm them. He explains that during law enforcement operations, officers endure hours of insults, spitting, and even mortar attacks. This extreme level of violence may contribute to certain incidents involving the police.

According to La Mola, the anti-police sentiment has escalated in recent years. A survey by Ifop in March 2023 revealed that 42% of respondents expressed trust in the police, while 9% expressed hostility.

The challenging working conditions have led to a high attrition rate among police officers, with approximately 2,000 leaving the force each year and nearly 260 taking their own lives due to the unbearable work environment. La Mola argues that the Ministry of the Interior, represented by Gérald Darmanin, acknowledges the shortcomings of the system and the need for improved training and selection processes for police recruits.

Words of the day

emotions : émotions

violence : violence