Policemen too are humans and products of the society in which they live. Police excesses can, therefore, take place anytime. However, it is the speed with which they are dealt with and the remedial action that is taken to comfort citizens that matters. The recent riots and violence in France point to a situation of imbalance in policing that has valuable lessons for other societies and nations.
Riots first broke out in France on 27 June, after a traffic policeman shot a 17-year-old teenager, Nahel, of African descent, killing him. Born and brought up in France, Nahel was in a rented Mercedes car without the requisite legal papers and failed to obey orders to stop and was shot. Coming on the heels of earlier protests against pension reforms, the current riots are indeed a big hit to civil society in France, apart from being a political threat to the French presidency.
In 2005, the last time that France was convulsed by such widespread nightly rioting in cities across the country, it took three weeks and the introduction of a state of emergency to restore calm. Actually, the current riots have less to do with Mr Macron, and more with the nature of policing. The issue that is raising most hackles is the loosening in early 2017 of the rules governing the police use of firearms, their use by traffic policemen and the consequent increase in deaths – in 2022 13 people were killed during traffic checks – a record. There is a perception that youth are getting checked by the traffic police for who they are and not for what they are doing. Not surprisingly, the United Nations human rights office called out France “to seriously address the deep issues of racism and discrimination in law enforcement.”
Bu hikaye Businessworld India dergisinin 29 July 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Businessworld India dergisinin 29 July 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
MEMORIES & IMPRESSIONS
Ratan Tata was an exceptional human being. He was a visionary leader, esteemed industrialist, and a humanitarian, who left an indelible mark on India and the world.
The Robotaxi Market
The robotaxi market is shaping up to be a high-stakes battleground as tech giants and automakers race to transform urban mobility.
And the Nobel Prize Goes to AI
The recent Nobel Prize T awards to AI pioneers affiliated with Google have sparked a broader conversation about Big Tech's influence on research and the limitations of traditional prize categories.
Ola Electrified
Once considered a trailblazer in India’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, Bhavish Aggarwal’s Ola Electric now faces a major accountability crisis.
Sharp Slide in Industrial Output on Eve of Deepavali
India’s index of industrial production (IIP) saw a sharp reversal in August, contracting by 0.1 per cent, in stark contrast to the 4.7 per cent growth in July, mostly because of significant contractions in mining and electricity generation.
Heralding the Solar Era with Sustainable Electrification
RAJEEV KASHYAP on the economics of solar power, the hurdles in scaling it, and much more
A WELL-GREASED MACHINE
The OmniBook X14 laptop runs on first-generation Snapdragon X Elite, which bets big on Al-enabled productivity and battery life, but falls short when it comes to overall experience, says Deep Majumdar
DO NOT LETA HEALTH CRISIS RUIN YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH
For a family of four living in a metro, it is recommended to opt for a family floater health insurance plan with a sum insured of at least Rs 15-20 lakh
Disruption Ahead: Beyond Organisation Charts and Structures
ALBERT EINSTEIN FAMOUSLY said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Dr. Rahul Shivajirao Kadam: A Visionary Leader Blending Sustainability, Innovation, And Social Empowerment
We are on the stage of global warming, and these technologies not only help prevent further damage but also leave behind a better environment for future generations.