Tough days for the police in France. A Paris court has decided to open an investigation after the emergence of videos that show a man with a bloodied face being beaten on the ground by a policeman. The events took place this Saturday in a demonstrations by the gilets jaunes (yellow vests) in the French capital.
The investigation was opened due to "deliberate violence by a person holding a role of public authority," according to the Inspectorate-General of the French National Police.
allo @Place_Beauvau - c'est pour un signalement - 870
— David Dufresne (@davduf) January 18, 2020
Manifestant maîtrisé, au sol, puis frappé à terre.
Paris, secteur Gare de l’Est, #Acte62, 18 janvier 2020, vers 14h. Source: Pat Ricia sur https://t.co/MANxKPtEQE pic.twitter.com/bfGmG30h4t
As can be seen from the images shared on social media, the protester was on the ground when a police officer arresting him struck him at least twice.
Comparisons can, of course, be made with police behaviour in other countries and situations. For example, last October in the city of Barcelona:
⚠️Carga policial desproporcionada hacia un manifestante por parte de los cuerpos de seguridad de la policía Nacional. ⚠️ Máxima difusión ⚠️ #Barcelona pic.twitter.com/NTknkjD42e
— Santiago Botero 🏴🇨🇴🏴 (@dkobotero) 16 d’octubre de 2019
Para detener a una persona que ésta completamente reducida ponerle la rodilla en la cabeza es completamente desproporcionado.
— IRIDIA (@centre_IRIDIA) 26 d’octubre de 2019
Ésta actuación de @policia busca castigar, va más allá de las necesidades de la intervención policial. pic.twitter.com/QpfJWHtIE4