'We're not barbarians': French police say ahead of protest against working conditions
Record ID:
1434465
'We're not barbarians': French police say ahead of protest against working conditions
- Title: 'We're not barbarians': French police say ahead of protest against working conditions
- Date: 1st October 2019
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 26, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (French) REPRESENTATIVE OF FRENCH POLICE UNION ALLIANCE, FREDERIC LAGACHE, SAYING: "When people say our colleagues are barbarians but then every Saturday, sometimes every Sunday, they're here to ensure the security of demonstrators for those who participate in declared protests, it's unfair. Our colleagues are not barbarians. We're doing our best and we noticed that when the protests take place without trouble, and we had no violent incidents, because our foremost duty is to ensure everything goes well for everyone. Unfortunately, when you're facing black blocs, they're not gentle-hearted, or radicalised 'yellow vests' who are not gentle-hearted, we're forced to respond." PARIS, FRANCE (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 21, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BLACK BLOC PROTESTERS AT CLIMATE DEMONSTRATION
- Embargoed: 15th October 2019 16:21
- Keywords: France police protests yellow vests violence tear gas G7 summit
- Location: PARIS AND BIARRITZ, FRANCE
- City: PARIS AND BIARRITZ, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA005AZ9OPJB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Even at their own demonstration, police officers who gathered against degrading working conditions on Thursday (September 26) were outnumbered by counter-protesters who carried signs and chanted slogans bashing authorities.
Organised by the Police Union Alliance, last week's protest took place in front of the headquarters of far-left party France Unbowed, whose leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, a fervent police critic, has called officers "barbarians."
Police officers are now planning a day of marches on Wednesday (October 2) as part of their response to what they feel is hatred towards them by pockets of protesters and their supporters.
Police Union Alliance Secretary-General Fabien Vanhemelryck said many police officers were feeling overworked and unappreciated in the line of duty.
Although an Elabe survey conducted for French media in May showed 74 percent of French people maintain a good view of the police, 38 percent still believe authorities used excessive force during the often-violent protests.
Police also say they have been working too much at other functions. For one, more than 13,000 police were mobilised in Biarritz in August for the G7 summit.
The months-long "yellow vest" protests, named after motorists' high-visibility jackets, are seeking to revive participation in demonstrations that have sometimes turned violent. Protesters have claimed police used excessive force.
The movement emerged late last year, triggered by fuel tax rises and swelling into a revolt against President Emmanuel Macron's style of government.
(Production: Antony Paone, Ardee Napolitano) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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