France’s police shooting law puts justice at risk
The proposal, which passed by 313 votes to 199, would establish a legal presumption that police officers who kill while using their firearms acted lawfully unless evidence proves otherwise
Published: 04:07 PM,Jul 21,2026 | EDITED : 08:07 PM,Jul 21,2026
France is once again at the centre of a national debate over policing, this time following the National Assembly's approval of a bill that would fundamentally change how fatal police shootings are treated under the law. The proposal, which passed by 313 votes to 199, would establish a legal presumption that police officers who kill while using their firearms acted lawfully unless evidence proves otherwise. The bill must still pass through the Senate before becoming law, but it has already sparked fierce opposition from human rights organisations, lawyers and victims' families.
At first glance, supporters argue that the reform simply protects police officers who work under immense pressure and regularly face dangerous situations. No reasonable person disputes that officers should have the ability to defend themselves when confronted with genuine threats. But this proposed law raises a much deeper concern.
It changes the starting point of justice itself. Instead of every fatal police shooting being examined from a position of neutrality, the law would begin by assuming the officer acted correctly. That may appear to be a subtle legal adjustment, but for the families of victims, it represents a significant shift. Every life taken by the state deserves an independent and transparent investigation. Presuming legality before that investigation has even begun risks undermining public confidence in the justice system.
The concern is particularly relevant in France, which already records one of the highest numbers of fatal police shootings in Europe. According to Reuters, police shootings have increased significantly in recent years, particularly since reforms introduced in 2017 expanded the circumstances under which officers could use firearms during traffic stops. Critics argue that instead of strengthening accountability, France is now moving further in the opposite direction.
This proposal also comes against the backdrop of several highly publicised police brutality cases that have shaken the country.
The death of Nahel Merzouk in June 2023 remains one of the most significant. The 17-year-old was shot during a traffic stop after allegedly refusing to comply with police instructions. Officers initially stated that they had fired because they feared being struck by the vehicle. However, video footage later contradicted important elements of that account, showing an officer pointing his weapon through the driver's window before firing as the car attempted to drive away. Nahel's death sparked nationwide protests and days of unrest, reopening long-standing debates about policing, racism and accountability in France. Many people fear that under this proposed law, future cases could become even harder to investigate fairly.
These concerns are particularly strong among Black and Arab communities, who have long argued that they experience disproportionately frequent identity checks and police interventions. Repeated allegations of racial profiling have damaged trust between law enforcement and some communities. Introducing legislation that appears to strengthen legal protections for officers rather than oversight risks deepening that divide.
The debate is not unique to France. The United States has spent years confronting similar questions following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tyre Nichols and many others. Each case sparked renewed conversations about police brutality and racism, and public trust depends on confidence that no one is above the law, not even those tasked with enforcing it.
That is why the French proposal has generated such widespread opposition. More than 360,000 people have already signed a petition opposing the legislation on the National Assembly's website. The petition was launched by Issam El Khalfaoui, whose son was fatally shot by a police officer in 2021. For many families who have lost loved ones during police interventions, this reform feels less like additional protection for officers and more like another obstacle to obtaining justice.
The danger of this proposal lies in the message it sends. Laws do more than regulate behaviour; they shape public confidence. At a time when trust between police and parts of the population is already fragile, beginning from the assumption that every fatal shooting was lawful, it risks reinforcing the perception that accountability is secondary to institutional protection.
If France wants to strengthen confidence in its police, it should focus on transparency, independent investigations and accountability, not legal presumptions that risk placing state power above public scrutiny. It is equally important that police officers receive comprehensive training on racial bias, not only in France but across the Western world. When law enforcement begins to associate certain ethnic or racial groups with criminality by default, those communities are placed at greater risk of unnecessary stops, excessive use of force and potentially fatal encounters simply because of who they are.