Paris: French police tactics are facing renewed scrutiny after several teenagers suffered serious injuries during protests, intensifying debate over crowd control weapons, police accountability and the safety of demonstrators. The government is preparing to deploy about 70,000 police officers and gendarmes across the country on Saturday, October 24, amid fears of further violence.
The security operation will include police units and mobile gendarmerie forces. Authorities are also taking precautionary measures in Paris, where several major museums, including the Louvre, are expected to close for the day to protect visitors, staff and collections.
The preparations follow demonstrations marked by clashes, looting and serious injuries. While most student protests have focused on poor school conditions and a lack of resources, some gatherings have witnessed violence involving demonstrators and security forces.
The latest debate over police tactics intensified after a 17 year old girl lost an eye in Mulhouse and a 17 year old boy lost a hand in Saint Etienne during protests on October 17. The circumstances surrounding the injuries have raised questions about the weapons used by police and the safeguards in place to prevent permanent harm.
The incidents followed an earlier case in Lens, where a 15 year old boy lost a hand during student protests on October 5. On October 7, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced a temporary suspension of stun grenade use in policing the high school student movement while the circumstances of the incident were investigated.
The government subsequently indicated that police could use intermediate force weapons during demonstrations, subject to the applicable rules and the requirement that force must be proportionate. The initial suspension was a precautionary measure, and it should not be confused with a permanent nationwide ban on stun grenades.
French police use several types of crowd control equipment, including tear gas, batons, stun grenades and launchers that fire kinetic impact projectiles. These weapons are intended to help officers manage dangerous situations, but they can cause severe injuries when used inappropriately or under circumstances that increase the risk of harm.
Human rights organisations have called for tighter restrictions on their use. Amnesty International France urged the government to introduce a permanent ban on stun grenades in protest policing following the serious injuries reported during the student demonstrations. The organisation has also called for restrictions on launchers that fire kinetic impact projectiles.
The authorities maintain that intermediate force weapons are necessary when officers face serious violence and need to respond while keeping dangerous individuals at a distance. However, critics argue that the use of such equipment can expose peaceful demonstrators and bystanders to unnecessary risks.
French rules require police to use force only when justified by the circumstances and in a proportionate manner. The application of these standards has been questioned in several earlier demonstrations.
France's Defender of Rights, an independent public authority that examines complaints involving public services and security forces, has documented problems with police conduct during previous protests.
In its examination of events at Sainte Soline on March 25, 2023, the authority identified disproportionate use of tear gas grenades and defensive ball launchers in the circumstances it examined. It also raised concerns about the handling of emergency assistance and recommended disciplinary proceedings in relation to the cases reviewed.
In a separate investigation concerning a school protest in January 2023, the authority found that officers had used tear gas at close range against students participating in a nonviolent demonstration who did not present an immediate threat. It concluded that the use of force was unnecessary in those circumstances.
These findings provide important background to the current debate, but they do not establish that police acted unlawfully in the recent incidents. Each case requires a separate investigation into the weapon used, the threat faced by officers and the circumstances in which force was applied.
Questions about police accountability have also grown as more allegations of misconduct are examined. On October 7, reports said 18 cases had been referred to the police inspectorate. Subsequent reporting described at least two dozen allegations under investigation, although the figures may reflect different reporting dates or categories.
An investigation does not automatically establish that an officer has committed an offence. The authorities must examine the available evidence before determining whether disciplinary action or criminal proceedings are justified.
The protests have also created wider public order challenges. Some demonstrators have been involved in fires, vandalism and attacks on property, while police officers and members of the public have suffered injuries. Authorities say they will respond firmly to violence and attempts to damage public buildings.
President Emmanuel Macron said on October 22 that certain protests described by the government as illegitimate would be prohibited. Trade union demonstrations would remain permitted, although authorities could change their routes. Planned demonstrations in Marseille and Lyon were also subject to restrictions.
The government now faces the challenge of maintaining public order while protecting the right to peaceful assembly. Police have a responsibility to respond to violence, but their actions must comply with the law and minimise unnecessary harm.
The latest injuries have renewed calls for greater transparency about police weapons, clearer safeguards for their use and effective investigations into alleged misconduct. The outcome of those investigations and the government's future decisions on crowd control equipment will help determine whether additional protections are introduced before further demonstrations take place.