In a letter addressed to his troops, the prefect of police of Paris Laurent Nuñez regretted "
unfair criticism
" and "
defamatory voices
" against them.
He called on them to "
always provide a proportionate response
" during law enforcement operations.
Accusations of police violence have targeted the police in recent weeks, in particular from left-wing politicians, in connection with the supervision by the police of the demonstrations against the pension reform.
"
For several days, defamatory voices have been raised (...) to question in turn your profession, your units, your vocation
", writes the prefect in this letter dated April 3 and consulted on Wednesday by AFP .
"
You have suffered criticism of which I know the unjust nature and intolerable public insults
", he adds in this letter, where he thanks the police for their "
sustained commitment for more than a month and a half
", "
in particularly trying working conditions
”.
Many provocations
An investigation was opened at the end of March by the Paris prosecutor's office for "
public insult towards a person holding public authority
", after comments by Jean-Luc Mélenchon on the motorcycle police officers of the BRAV-M, reported by Laurent Nuñez.
"
I also know that I can count on you not to give in to too many provocations, as well as on the coolness that is yours to ensure that you always provide a proportionate response to contain abuses and violence", continues Laurent Nuñez in
the message.
"
On the sidelines, images and recordings relayed on social networks may have revealed inappropriate gestures or remarks on which it is necessary to shed full light and, if necessary, to condemn", adds the prefect of police
.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced on Sunday that 36 judicial investigations have been opened by the IGPN, "
the police force
", and 2 by the IGGN (the equivalent for the gendarmes) since the start of the mobilization. against pension reform.