Police checks based on facial features: a discriminatory reality
When it comes to current affairs, it is difficult to ignore the issue of facial police checks. This discriminatory practice, which consists of targeting people based solely on their physical appearance, is a subject that regularly stirs up debate. But what really is the existence of these controls and their impact on society?
Recognition without commitment
The Council of State, the highest administrative court in France, recently recognized “the existence” of police checks based on facial features. He thus recognizes that this practice constitutes discrimination for the people who are its victims. However, the court considers itself incompetent to force the State to change its practices and therefore rejects any action in this direction.
The associations and NGOs which supported this group action demanded concrete measures to combat facial checks, such as the issuance of a receipt after each check or the ban on discrimination in identity checks. But the Council of State considers that this falls within the domain of public policy and that it is not up to administrative judges to replace public authorities.
Systematic discrimination
However, it is undeniable that police facial checks are not isolated cases. According to the Defender of Rights, a young man perceived as black or Arab would be twenty times more likely to be controlled than the rest of the population. This discrimination is therefore real and affects many people on a daily basis.
However, the existence of this practice is not enough to force the authorities to act. The Council of State considers that the measures requested by the associations in reality aim to redefine public policy choices in terms of identity checks, which is not within its competence.
A step towards transparency
Despite everything, the Council of State gave a clear directive to the Ministry of the Interior: to make the police service number on their uniforms legible and visible. This measure aims to ensure better traceability of checks and to hold police officers accountable for their actions. The Council of State thus gives the ministry twelve months to implement this obligation.
This decision is a first step towards greater transparency and better monitoring of police practices. It shows that facial checks are a real problem and that it is necessary to act to combat this discrimination.
In conclusion, if the Council of State recognizes the existence of police checks based on facial features, it nevertheless remains limited in its power of action.. However, the directive given regarding the legibility of law enforcement personnel numbers paves the way for better traceability of checks and better accountability of police officers. It is therefore essential to continue efforts to combat this discriminatory practice and promote a more equitable society.