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For years, French police unions have argued that officers should have broader discretion over when to shoot fleeing motorists. Time and time again, lawmakers refused. Finally in 2017, after a series of terrorist attacks, the government relented. Lawmakers have passed a bill allowing officers to shoot motorists fleeing traffic stops, even when the officers are not in immediate danger.
Since this law was passed, the number of fatal shootings of motorists by police has increased six-fold, according to recently collected data. Last year, 13 people were shot and killed in their cars, a record number in a country where police killings are rare.
Several lawmakers have called for the law to be repealed or revised. Some union leaders say training in what it allows has been wholly inadequate. “We had no training whatsoever,” Frederick LagashPolice union leader Coalition Police He said. He and the other officers interviewed said their classes were mostly online like video lessons and covered theoretical topics that failed to capture field realities.
“We have colleagues who are fired because they are convinced they are protected by law, when they are not,” he said. Eve Lefevretrade union leader. “There is definitely some collateral damage.”
In the past, French police were only allowed to fire on vehicles when officers were in imminent danger. But police unions have argued that they should have broader authority to combat crime and rules that match those of the Gendarmerie, a French police force with military status. Now, police can fire when they think motorists are likely to endanger their lives while fleeing. Officers could use their weapons in cases of “absolute necessity and in strictly proportional fashion”. Attorney Laurent Frank Lenard He said the officer involved in this week’s shooting, who he is representing, was “shot within the law.”
Politicians have called for a review of the law. An editorial in Le Monde, one of the FranceMajor newspapers have called for the law to be changed.
Since this law was passed, the number of fatal shootings of motorists by police has increased six-fold, according to recently collected data. Last year, 13 people were shot and killed in their cars, a record number in a country where police killings are rare.
Several lawmakers have called for the law to be repealed or revised. Some union leaders say training in what it allows has been wholly inadequate. “We had no training whatsoever,” Frederick LagashPolice union leader Coalition Police He said. He and the other officers interviewed said their classes were mostly online like video lessons and covered theoretical topics that failed to capture field realities.
“We have colleagues who are fired because they are convinced they are protected by law, when they are not,” he said. Eve Lefevretrade union leader. “There is definitely some collateral damage.”
In the past, French police were only allowed to fire on vehicles when officers were in imminent danger. But police unions have argued that they should have broader authority to combat crime and rules that match those of the Gendarmerie, a French police force with military status. Now, police can fire when they think motorists are likely to endanger their lives while fleeing. Officers could use their weapons in cases of “absolute necessity and in strictly proportional fashion”. Attorney Laurent Frank Lenard He said the officer involved in this week’s shooting, who he is representing, was “shot within the law.”
Politicians have called for a review of the law. An editorial in Le Monde, one of the FranceMajor newspapers have called for the law to be changed.
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