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Dispute with law enforcement or a private security agency
Verified 12 March 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Do you have a dispute with law enforcement or a private security agency? You can enter the Defender of Rights. You can also type the inspection body responsible for the person who committed the dispute (as appropriate, the Inspectorate General of the National Police, the Inspectorate General of the National Gendarmerie or the Mayor). We present you with the information you need to know.
What applies to you ?
Dispute with the National Police
Are you a victim or witness to events that seem to be contrary to the ethics of national police officers? You can alert the Defender of Rights. You can also alert the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN). In any case, you can choose to enter either or both in a complementary manner. We guide you.
The French Defender of Rights ensures that those carrying out security activities in France comply with professional ethics.
It may intervene in the security activities of the following persons:
- Public security officers (police, gendarmes, customs officers, prison guards, rural or forestry guards, etc.)
- Agents of bodies with a public service mission (e.g. public transport supervisors)
- Employees of private security companies (guarding, surveillance, cash-in-transit services, etc.).
The facts must occur in the professional context of the officers, for example in one of the following situations:
- Arrest or detention (violence, humiliation, deprivation,...)
- Identity check (abuse of power, discrimination,...)
- Filing of complaints (refusal, contempt, moral judgment,...)
- Detention (violence, humiliation, deprivation,...)
- Search (abusive search,...)
- Policing of demonstrations (misuse of intermediate-level weapons of force such as flash-ball).
Such behavior can also be observed in another context, outside the judicial or prison framework: supermarkets, customs, airports, etc.
You can refer to the Defender of Rights if you are the victim or witness to behavior by law enforcement or security agents that you consider illegal.
You can also do this if you are the representative or the person entitled to it of a direct victim.
You can do the procedure in line, on-site or by post.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
On the spot
You can make an appointment with a representative of the Defender of Rights.
Who shall I contact
By mail
Who shall I contact
Defender of Rights
By post (from France, free and without postage)
Defender of Rights
Free answer 71120
75342 Paris cedex 07
Attention: attach photocopies of the documents relating to your referral to your post.
By email
Access to contact form
Vous avez choisi
Choisissez votre cas
On the spot
You can make an appointment with a representative of the Defender of Rights.
Who shall I contact
By mail
Who shall I contact
Defender of Rights
By post (from France, free and without postage)
Defender of Rights
Free answer 71120
75342 Paris cedex 07
Attention: attach photocopies of the documents relating to your referral to your post.
By email
Access to contact form
Warning
Referring the case to the Defender of Rights does not suspend the time limit for initiating a legal action.
Powers of the Ombudsman
The Defender of Rights may collect any useful information on the facts of the case.
It may request information from the authorities, private persons and ministers responsible for seizing control bodies (general inspections).
He can do on-site checks in public places and business premises.
A public official, a private security business officer and his staff may be summoned and questioned by the Defender of Rights.
Case Processing
Where the facts of the case suggest the existence of a criminal offense, the Defender of Rights shall inform the public prosecutor.
Where the facts appear to constitute breaches of discipline, he may inform the authorities or persons vested with disciplinary authority.
The holders of disciplinary authority must inform the Defender of Rights of the outcome of the case.
In order to remedy the deficiencies found or prevent their recurrence, the Defender of Rights may address an opinion or a recommendation to the authorities concerned. They must reply to him within the time limit he sets.
In the absence of a response, or if the recommendation has not been followed, the Defender of Rights may draw up a special report and make it public. It may also, if it considers it necessary, publish the reply of the authority concerned.
If you believe that you are a victim of or witness to illegal behavior by national police officers, you can contact the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN) online.
To do this, you must use a reporting form:
Submit online to the Inspectorate General of the National Police (IGPN)
You will be informed of the outcome of your report by email or telephone.
Any false report is systematically reported to the judicial authority and may be the subject of a complaint by the Ministry of the Interior.
Please note
This statement does not constitute a lodging of a complaint.
Dispute with Municipal Police
Are you a victim or witness to events that seem to be contrary to the ethics of municipal police officers? You can alert the Defender of Rights. You can also alert the mayor. In any case, you can choose to enter either or both in a complementary manner. We guide you.
The French Defender of Rights ensures that those carrying out security activities in France comply with professional ethics.
It may intervene in the security activities of the following persons:
- Public security officers (police, gendarmes, customs officers, prison guards, rural or forestry guards, etc.)
- Agents of bodies with a public service mission (e.g. public transport supervisors)
- Employees of private security companies (guarding, surveillance, cash-in-transit services, etc.).
The facts must occur in the professional context of the officers, for example in one of the following situations:
- Arrest or detention (violence, humiliation, deprivation,...)
- Identity check (abuse of power, discrimination,...)
- Filing of complaints (refusal, contempt, moral judgment,...)
- Detention (violence, humiliation, deprivation,...)
- Search (abusive search,...)
- Policing of demonstrations (misuse of intermediate-level weapons of force such as flash-ball).
Such behavior can also be observed in another context, outside the judicial or prison framework: supermarkets, customs, airports, etc.
You can refer to the Defender of Rights if you are the victim or witness to behavior by law enforcement or security agents that you consider illegal.
You can also do this if you are the representative or the person entitled to it of a direct victim.
You can do the procedure in line, on-site or by post.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
On the spot
You can make an appointment with a representative of the Defender of Rights.
Who shall I contact
By mail
Who shall I contact
Defender of Rights
By post (from France, free and without postage)
Defender of Rights
Free answer 71120
75342 Paris cedex 07
Attention: attach photocopies of the documents relating to your referral to your post.
By email
Access to contact form
Vous avez choisi
Choisissez votre cas
On the spot
You can make an appointment with a representative of the Defender of Rights.
Who shall I contact
By mail
Who shall I contact
Defender of Rights
By post (from France, free and without postage)
Defender of Rights
Free answer 71120
75342 Paris cedex 07
Attention: attach photocopies of the documents relating to your referral to your post.
By email
Access to contact form
Warning
Referring the case to the Defender of Rights does not suspend the time limit for initiating a legal action.
Powers of the Ombudsman
The Defender of Rights may collect any useful information on the facts of the case.
It may request information from the authorities, private persons and ministers responsible for seizing control bodies (general inspections).
He can do on-site checks in public places and business premises.
A public official, a private security business officer and his staff may be summoned and questioned by the Defender of Rights.
Case Processing
Where the facts of the case suggest the existence of a criminal offense, the Defender of Rights shall inform the public prosecutor.
Where the facts appear to constitute breaches of discipline, he may inform the authorities or persons vested with disciplinary authority.
The holders of disciplinary authority must inform the Defender of Rights of the outcome of the case.
In order to remedy the deficiencies found or prevent their recurrence, the Defender of Rights may address an opinion or a recommendation to the authorities concerned. They must reply to him within the time limit he sets.
In the absence of a response, or if the recommendation has not been followed, the Defender of Rights may draw up a special report and make it public. It may also, if it considers it necessary, publish the reply of the authority concerned.
If you believe that you are a victim of or witness to unlawful behavior by municipal police officers, you must contact the municipality's mayor and forward your complaint or complaint to her.
Please note
This statement does not constitute a lodging of a complaint.
Dispute with the gendarmerie
Are you a victim or witness to facts that seem to you to be contrary to the ethics of the gendarmes? You can alert the Defender of Rights. You can also alert the General Inspectorate of the National Gendarmerie (IGGN). In any case, you can choose to enter either or both in a complementary manner. We guide you.
The French Defender of Rights ensures that those carrying out security activities in France comply with professional ethics.
It may intervene in the security activities of the following persons:
- Public security officers (police, gendarmes, customs officers, prison guards, rural or forestry guards, etc.)
- Agents of bodies with a public service mission (e.g. public transport supervisors)
- Employees of private security companies (guarding, surveillance, cash-in-transit services, etc.).
The facts must occur in the professional context of the officers, for example in one of the following situations:
- Arrest or detention (violence, humiliation, deprivation,...)
- Identity check (abuse of power, discrimination,...)
- Filing of complaints (refusal, contempt, moral judgment,...)
- Detention (violence, humiliation, deprivation,...)
- Search (abusive search,...)
- Policing of demonstrations (misuse of intermediate-level weapons of force such as flash-ball).
Such behavior can also be observed in another context, outside the judicial or prison framework: supermarkets, customs, airports, etc.
You can refer to the Defender of Rights if you are the victim or witness to behavior by law enforcement or security agents that you consider illegal.
You can also do this if you are the representative or the person entitled to it of a direct victim.
You can do the procedure in line, on-site or by post.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
On the spot
You can make an appointment with a representative of the Defender of Rights.
Who shall I contact
By mail
Who shall I contact
Defender of Rights
By post (from France, free and without postage)
Defender of Rights
Free answer 71120
75342 Paris cedex 07
Attention: attach photocopies of the documents relating to your referral to your post.
By email
Access to contact form
Vous avez choisi
Choisissez votre cas
On the spot
You can make an appointment with a representative of the Defender of Rights.
Who shall I contact
By mail
Who shall I contact
Defender of Rights
By post (from France, free and without postage)
Defender of Rights
Free answer 71120
75342 Paris cedex 07
Attention: attach photocopies of the documents relating to your referral to your post.
By email
Access to contact form
Warning
Referring the case to the Defender of Rights does not suspend the time limit for initiating a legal action.
Powers of the Ombudsman
The Defender of Rights may collect any useful information on the facts of the case.
It may request information from the authorities, private persons and ministers responsible for seizing control bodies (general inspections).
He can do on-site checks in public places and business premises.
A public official, a private security business officer and his staff may be summoned and questioned by the Defender of Rights.
Case Processing
Where the facts of the case suggest the existence of a criminal offense, the Defender of Rights shall inform the public prosecutor.
Where the facts appear to constitute breaches of discipline, he may inform the authorities or persons vested with disciplinary authority.
The holders of disciplinary authority must inform the Defender of Rights of the outcome of the case.
In order to remedy the deficiencies found or prevent their recurrence, the Defender of Rights may address an opinion or a recommendation to the authorities concerned. They must reply to him within the time limit he sets.
In the absence of a response, or if the recommendation has not been followed, the Defender of Rights may draw up a special report and make it public. It may also, if it considers it necessary, publish the reply of the authority concerned.
If you wish to inform the IGGN of facts that appear to you to be illegal, you can submit a complaint online:
Contact the Inspectorate General of the National Gendarmerie (IGGN) online
You will be informed of the outcome of your report by email.
Any false report is systematically reported to the judicial authority and may be the subject of a complaint by the Ministry of the Interior.
Please note
This statement does not constitute a lodging of a complaint.
Dispute with a private security company
Are you a victim of or witness to behavior by security agents that you consider illegal? You can report to the Defender of Rights. We guide you.
The French Defender of Rights ensures that those carrying out security activities in France comply with professional ethics.
It may intervene in the security activities of the following persons:
- Public security officers (police, gendarmes, customs officers, prison guards, rural or forestry guards, etc.)
- Agents of bodies with a public service mission (e.g. public transport supervisors)
- Employees of private security companies (guarding, surveillance, cash-in-transit services, etc.).
The facts must occur in the professional context of the officers, for example in one of the following situations:
- Arrest or detention (violence, humiliation, deprivation,...)
- Identity check (abuse of power, discrimination,...)
- Filing of complaints (refusal, contempt, moral judgment,...)
- Detention (violence, humiliation, deprivation,...)
- Search (abusive search,...)
- Policing of demonstrations (misuse of intermediate-level weapons of force such as flash-ball).
Such behavior can also be observed in another context, outside the judicial or prison framework: supermarkets, customs, airports, etc.
You can refer to the Defender of Rights if you are the victim or witness to behavior by law enforcement or security agents that you consider illegal.
You can also do this if you are the representative or the person entitled to it of a direct victim.
You can do the procedure in line, on-site or by post.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
On the spot
You can make an appointment with a representative of the Defender of Rights.
Who shall I contact
By mail
Who shall I contact
Defender of Rights
By post (from France, free and without postage)
Defender of Rights
Free answer 71120
75342 Paris cedex 07
Attention: attach photocopies of the documents relating to your referral to your post.
By email
Access to contact form
Vous avez choisi
Choisissez votre cas
On the spot
You can make an appointment with a representative of the Defender of Rights.
Who shall I contact
By mail
Who shall I contact
Defender of Rights
By post (from France, free and without postage)
Defender of Rights
Free answer 71120
75342 Paris cedex 07
Attention: attach photocopies of the documents relating to your referral to your post.
By email
Access to contact form
Warning
Referring the case to the Defender of Rights does not suspend the time limit for initiating a legal action.
The Defender of Rights may collect any useful information on the facts of the case.
It may request information from the authorities, private persons and ministers responsible for seizing control bodies (general inspections).
He can do on-site checks in public places and business premises.
A public official, a private security business officer and his staff may be summoned and questioned by the Defender of Rights.
Where the facts of the case suggest the existence of a criminal offense, the Defender of Rights shall inform the public prosecutor.
Where the facts appear to constitute breaches of discipline, he may inform the authorities or persons vested with disciplinary authority.
The holders of disciplinary authority must inform the Defender of Rights of the outcome of the case.
In order to remedy the deficiencies found or prevent their recurrence, the Defender of Rights may address an opinion or a recommendation to the authorities concerned. They must reply to him within the time limit he sets.
In the absence of a response, or if the recommendation has not been followed, the Defender of Rights may draw up a special report and make it public. It may also, if it considers it necessary, publish the reply of the authority concerned.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Defender of Rights
By post (from France, free and without postage)
Defender of Rights
Free answer 71120
75342 Paris cedex 07
Attention: attach photocopies of the documents relating to your referral to your post.
By email
Access to contact form
Defender of Rights