Key facts
- French lawmakers approved a bill that presumes police officers acted lawfully when shooting and killing individuals.
- The law passed the National Assembly with 313 votes in favor and 199 against.
- Critics argue the legislation amounts to a 'licence to kill' and will lead to more deaths.
- Fatal police shootings in France have increased, reaching 69 in 2024.
- The bill still requires a vote in the upper house of parliament.
French lawmakers have approved a contentious bill that would grant police officers the benefit of the doubt in cases where they shoot and kill individuals, a move critics have decried as a 'licence to kill.' The legislation passed the National Assembly with 313 votes to 199 and now moves to the upper house for a vote. Proponents, including Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, argue the law is necessary to protect police officers working in dangerous conditions. However, opponents, such as Amnesty International and left-wing lawmakers, contend it will embolden police, leading to more deaths and making it harder for victims' families to seek justice. The burden of proof, they argue, will shift to the families. This development comes amid rising fatal police shootings in France, with 69 recorded in 2024, compared to 49 in 2023 and 50 in 2022. A previous 2017 law had already expanded the circumstances under which police could use their firearms, reportedly leading to a fivefold increase in fatal shootings involving moving vehicles. A petition against the new law, launched by Issam El Khalfaoui whose son was killed by police in 2021, has garnered over 360,000 signatures.