Politics · France · 3 hrs ago
French police face scrutiny over handling of student protests
High school students in France have held rallies and blockades since late September to demand better learning conditions.
Several young people were seriously injured during or around the protests, including by grenades and a rubber-bullet launcher.
France’s police watchdog, the Inspectorate General of National Police, has opened 18 investigations into alleged police misconduct.
Crowd control is mainly handled by specialized units of the national police and the gendarmerie, which receive dedicated training for this work.
The injuries have renewed debate about how police manage protests and whether their use of force is proportionate.
A third day of national protests was planned for Tuesday, October 13.
France’s police inspectorate has opened 18 investigations into alleged misconduct during high school student protests.
Several students have suffered severe injuries during rallies and blockades held since late September.
The protests are demanding better learning conditions.
The investigations have renewed debate over crowd control and the proportionate use of force.
France’s main specialized crowd-control units are the gendarmerie’s mobile squadrons and the national police’s Republican Security Companies.
- Who
- French police and high school students taking part in demonstrations.
- What
- The police inspectorate is investigating 18 cases of alleged police misconduct amid scrutiny of crowd control and force used at protests.
- When
- The demonstrations have taken place since late September; the article was published on October 13, 2026.
- Where
- France.
- Why
- Students are protesting for better learning conditions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
High school students began organizing rallies and blockades demanding better learning conditions.
The police inspectorate was tasked with 18 investigations into alleged misconduct during the demonstrations.
The article described preparations for a third day of national protests.
- Investigations
- 18 cases assigned to the Inspectorate General of National Police
- Demonstrators
- High school students
- Protest demand
- Better learning conditions
- Mobile gendarmerie squadrons
- 12,502 officers in 2022
- Republican Security Companies
- 11,164 officers in 2022
Sources
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