After several days of violence erupted in France because of a fatal traffic stop on a youth from the suburbs, the focus was on the police. Because in the last year alone, 13 car occupants were killed in traffic controls. The martial behavior of the police, always with a view to the worst case, has its limits, says cultural sociologist Andrea Kretschmann.
SRF News: How is the police perceived by the residents of the banlieues?
Andrea Kretschmann: Police work is perceived in the sense that, on the one hand, she is extremely absent from emergency calls for fear of being outnumbered. When they arrive in sufficient numbers with protective suits, it is often too late. On the other hand, the police are extremely present on normal patrols and attract attention with their authoritarian demeanor with helmets, protective clothing and hard rubber weapons. This includes extensive identity checks without a specific reason and the sealing off of entire districts. Bullying and aggressive behavior is often heard here.
Is distrust of the police particularly widespread among people with a migration background?
The police are viewed very differently by society depending on the social point of view. Anyone who lives in a neighborhood where the police are concerned with protecting property has a different picture than someone who is being checked in their neighborhood for no reason or who is waiting in vain for help after an emergency call.
In demonstration training, it is noticeable that in France only the worst case scenario is trained.
How does police training in France differ from other countries in Europe?
There are differences and similarities. In contrast to Germany, a general trend can be observed in France that training is very security-oriented and less civil police training. In demonstration training, it is noticeable that only the worst case is trained. De-escalation is not practiced. Although research suggests practicing respectful conversation or addressing citizens.
Does that also have something to do with the fact that France has been confronted with serious terrorist attacks in recent years?
There is a global tendency to assume the worst case. This mindset comes primarily from counter-terrorism. However, this type of police training is much older than the terrorist attacks since the turn of the millennium. Accordingly, such logics do not seem to be based solely on terrorist threats.
A respectful, non-racist and less authoritarian approach to the population would be a conceivable approach.
The political right demands more security, the left a dissolution and reestablishment of the police force. How can the police get closer to the people again?
The police appear in France with enormous weapon equipment. They are weapons of a military nature. There are countries like England where police officers do not carry firearms. This civil police approach works in this tradition. A respectful, non-racist and less authoritarian approach to the population would be a conceivable approach. At the same time, policing should take place where it is necessary and not create additional social problems. In addition, there is the question of whether the police are always the right means or whether other state actors from social work might be better suited for certain operations.
The conversation was conducted by Simone Hulliger.