The deputies approved Wednesday, September 22, at first reading, a strengthening of the penalties for the perpetrators of violence committed against members of the police force.
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Article 4 of the “
criminal liability and internal security
” bill
, which provides for this strengthening, was adopted by a very large majority - 52 votes to 3.
Seven years in prison and 100,000 euros fine
The text creates a specific offense in the Penal Code for violence against police officers, gendarmes, soldiers within the framework of an internal operation, municipal police officers, prison officers, firefighters or customs officers, as well as their families.
Unanimously and with the agreement of the government, the deputies added in session, by way of amendments, the rural guards to this list.
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The bill provides for seven years in prison and a 100,000 euros fine for violence resulting in total incapacity for work of more than eight days, five years and 75,000 euros for less or no incapacity. These penalties are increased in the event of aggravating circumstances. "
When we attack a police officer, a gendarme, it is not just anyone that we attack, we attack the Republic
", pleaded the Minister of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti.
The examination of this article was accompanied by lively exchanges between the latter and LR deputies, who called for minimum penalties, or heavier penalties in the event of the death or permanent infirmity of the victim. Eric Ciotti has thus called for "
minimum sentences against police attackers
" in order to "
sanctify the uniform of the Republic
".
The Minister of Justice denounced in return an “
escalation
” of the right which will intensify “the
more we go towards the presidential election
”.
The sanctions proposed by LR are either "
unconstitutional
" or accompanied by exemptions which make "
a floor with holes
", he quipped.
"
We will see in 2022 what the French think
", replied LR Julien Ravier with reference to the presidential election.
Republican MPs voted for the article, however.
For France Insubordinate, hostile to the text, Ugo Bernalicis accused the government of "
patronage vis-à-vis police organizations
".
