This archive report was first published on 13 June 2020.
On June 13, 2020, the French government's proposal to reform the national police force faced resistance from within the institution. The move came amidst growing allegations of systemic racism and excessive force.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, popularly known as 'France's top cop,' had previously downplayed accusations of racism, attributing them to a few 'black sheep' within the force. However, the government's recent shift in tone, including a proposal to ban the chokehold, has sparked anger among police officers.
Mathieu Zagrodzki, a police expert at the University of Versailles, noted that the police unions and force are accustomed to protective language from Castaner. During the Yellow Vest crisis, the minister attributed violence to protesters, not the police. The current change in discourse has been met with resistance.
The government ultimately maintained its ban on chokeholds but allowed officers to continue grabbing suspects from behind to bring them to the ground. This decision was met with criticism, particularly in the wake of the death of Cédric Chouviat, a delivery driver who died in January after a police stop escalated.
