Paris Police Practices Officially Linked to Systemic Discrimination, Study Confirms

New findings highlight discriminatory identity checks and fines targeting marginalized youth, with practices legitimized by local authorities and affirmed by France's highest administrative court.

• A study by Défenseur des droits reveals that Paris police systematically used identity checks and fines from 2013 to 2015 to evict young, racized individuals from public spaces.
• Police software frequently categorized targets as 'Perturbateurs - indésirables,' underscoring deliberate and systemic targeting practices.
• During the Covid pandemic, targeted youth were fined for infractions at rates 140 times higher than the general Île-de-France population, amplifying economic disparities.
• A case study highlights Amadou, a 19-year-old fined over 100 times between 2018 and 2023, accumulating €3,200 in debt, illustrating the severe financial burdens imposed.
• In 2023, the Conseil d’État officially recognized these discriminatory practices as systemic, confirming their institutional nature and widespread impact.

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