French Interior Minister Expresses Concern Over Police Conduct at Eco Protest
France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez acknowledged on Thursday his dissatisfaction with police behaviour seen in video footage during a March 2023 protest against a large reservoir project in Sainte-Soline, south-western France.
Revealing Footage and Police Actions
The 84 hours of recorded footage from body cameras worn by officers, published by Libération and the investigative website Mediapart, reveal officers insulting protesters and bragging about injuries they inflicted during the protest.
"I always remind people of the context: this was an illegal demonstration, where there was a great deal of serious violence against the police," Nunez told French broadcaster France Inter on Thursday.
He added,
"The comments made are unacceptable, and there are actions that are clearly not in line with regulations. Obviously, I am not at all happy with the comments I heard or the actions I saw."
Official Response and Investigation
Following the release of the footage, Nunez ordered an inquiry into police conduct during the demonstration, which resulted in injuries to more than 40 officers and over 100 protesters.
"I will never allow criticism of the internal security forces," said Nunez.
Context of the Protest
The protest was against the construction of a giant reservoir, and police were involved in dispersing demonstrators from a port blockade related to the project.
Summary: The Interior Minister condemned unacceptable police conduct revealed by bodycam footage during a violent illegal protest in Sainte-Soline and launched an inquiry into the incident.