French lawmakers back police shootings law dubbed 'licence to kill' by critics
The measure would presume officers acted lawfully in fatal shootings, and critics warn it could weaken accountability as police killings rise.
- On Tuesday, the National Assembly approved a law granting police officers the benefit of the doubt in shooting cases by a 313 to 199 vote, presuming their actions are lawful unless proven otherwise.
- Interior Minister Laurent Nunez defended the measure as necessary protection for police working in dangerous conditions, though the proposal reflects a longstanding demand from the far-right.
- Critics dubbed the measure a "licence to kill," with lawmaker Pouria Amirshahi warning "there will be more deaths" if officers face no accountability; agencies recorded 69 people killed by police in 2024 versus 50 in 2022.
- Amnesty International's Marie-Laure Geoffray warned the law would slow investigations and shift the burden of proof to victims' families; more than 360,000 people signed a petition against the measure launched by Issam El Khalfaoui.
- Fatal police shootings in France rank among Europe's highest and rising; academics found a 2017 law expanding firearm usage during vehicle stops led to a fivefold increase in such incidents.
43 Articles
43 Articles
French Lawmakers Vote to Give Police Officers Benefit of Doubt in Shootings
The lower house of the French parliament approved a law on July 7 that would give the benefit of the doubt to police officers involved in shootings in the course of their duties. The bill—which was approved by a 313–199 vote in the lower house of the National Assembly—would mean that investigating magistrates would have to assume police officers who fatally shot someone were acting within the law, unless there was evidence to prove otherwise. Th…
The left presses against the legal text because "they are granted a license to kill"
French Lawmakers Back 'Licence to Kill' Police Bill That Gives Officers the Benefit of the Doubt in Fatal Shootings
France has taken a major step towards one of its most divisive policing reforms in years after lawmakers approved a bill that critics have branded a 'licence to kill', warning it could make fatal police shootings more likely while making justice harder to obtain. Backed by the government and long championed by the far right, the proposal would give officers involved in fatal shootings the benefit of the doubt. Instead of investigators starting f…
His supporters point out the need for law enforcement officials not to be "automatically" suspected after an intervention involving the use of a weapon. But for his detractors, this law introduces neither more nor less a "permission to kill". TF1info explains what would change if the latter were finally adopted. - What does the law on the use of weapons by law enforcement officials, adopted on Tuesday by the deputies ? (Police, justice and other…
The bill, which still has to pass through the Senate, goes ahead with votes from the allied parties of the government and the extreme right, and despite attempts to block the left
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- 37% of the sources lean Left, 36% of the sources are Center
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