What is the IGPN?
The General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN), nicknamed the “police of the police,” is a national organization under the Ministry of the Interior whose mission is to ensure the proper functioning of the National Police, the Paris Police Prefecture, and the Municipal Police.
What are the missions of the IGPN?
The IGPN has three main missions:
- Improve the functioning of police services, by conducting audits and inspections;
- Coordinate the internal control system and risk management of police services;
- Ensure that police officers respect laws and regulations and act in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the National Police.
The IGPN conducts two types of investigations which can be concurrent:
- Judicial investigations which aim to identify a criminal offense affecting the interests of society.
In this context, an investigation is conducted on its own initiative or at the request of a public prosecutor or an investigating judge. A judicial investigation is opened as soon as a fault is committed by a police officer. This may involve a breach of professional secrecy, discriminatory or racist insults, or voluntary violence against a citizen, for example. A police officer found guilty of a criminal offense faces the same penalties as other citizens, namely a fine or imprisonment. - Administrative investigations which aim to materialize a professional and/or ethical misconduct affecting the interests of the Institution.
This may involve misconduct towards the public, or theft within the administration, for example. The administrative investigation is conducted on the initiative of the IGPN or on the instruction of an administrative authority (the Minister of the Interior, the Director General of the National Police, the Director General of Internal Security, or the Prefect of Police of Paris). If the IGPN has proof that a police officer has committed a fault, the latter risks disciplinary sanctions, such as a reminder of the rule, a reprimand, a suspension, or a dismissal. The request for sanction is made by the IGPN, but the hierarchy of the police officer has the right to apply it or not.
The IGPN has a national investigation division, 8 delegations (Lille, Metz, Paris, Rennes, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille and Fort-de-France) and an office in Nice.
The IGPN Report
- Since 2013, any person, victim or witness of abusive behavior by an official of the National Police or the Paris Prefecture, regardless of their place of residence, can make a report to the IGPN. There are several types of allegations to classify your report, including discriminatory behavior, refusal to file a complaint, or illegitimate violence: IGPN Report | Ministry of the Interior
The IGPN reporting form is accessible from the Ministry of the Interior’s website. It allows you to identify yourself and report the facts as precisely as possible.
The IGPN will inform you of the follow-up to your report. This may involve filing, a proposal to file a complaint, or the opening of an administrative investigation, for example. In all cases, the person who made a report receives an acknowledgment of receipt.
In case of false or partially erroneous reporting, the person risks a fine of €45,000 and 5 years of imprisonment (art. 226-10 of the Penal Code).
Please note that the reporting platform is neither an emergency service nor an investigation service. Moreover, the form does not constitute a formal complaint. You can file a complaint with any gendarmerie or police service, or by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt addressed to the public prosecutor.
- Since 2017, the IGPN has also set up the internal platform “SIGNAL-DISCRI”, which allows police officers to report forms of discrimination, harassment, and sexual and gender-based violence within the National Police.
What to do if you are a victim or witness of abusive or inappropriate behavior by a police officer?
- In case of emergency, immediately call 17 or 112.
- Go to the emergency room.
- Gather as much evidence as possible.
- File a complaint immediately.
- Report to the IGPN while providing all the evidence in your possession.
- Contact the Defender of Rights.
- Call upon Equitas to be assisted in your proceedings.
APPLICABLE REFERENCES
Decree No. 2013-784 of August 28, 2013, art. 2.; Order of January 23, 2018 amending the order of May 9, 2014 authorizing the processing called ‘IGPN reporting platform’.
