Litigation with law enforcement or a private security agency
Verified 13 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
Do you have a dispute with the police (national police, municipal police, gendarmerie) or a private security agency? You can enter the Defender of rights. You can also type the inspection body responsible for the person who committed the dispute (as the case may be, the Inspectorate General of the National Police, the Inspectorate General of the National Gendarmerie or the Mayor). We present you the information to know.
What applies to you ?
National Police
If you are victim or witness facts that seem contrary to the ethics of the national police, you can alert the Defender of rights. You can also alert the Inspectorate General of the National Police (IGPN). You can choose to enter one or the other or the two in a complementary manner.
The Defender of Rights ensures compliance with ethics by persons carrying out security activities in France.
You can enter it for free.
It may intervene in security activities carried out by the following persons:
- Public security officers (police, gendarmes, customs officers, prison guards, rangers or foresters...))
- Agents of bodies entrusted with a public service mission (e.g. public transport supervisory agents)
- Employees of private security companies (guarding, surveillance, cash transport services...).)
The facts must occur in the professional framework of agents, it may be one of the following situations :
- Detention or custody (violence, humiliation, deprivation...))
- Identity control (abuse of power, discrimination...))
- Filing a complaint (refusal, contempt, moral judgment...))
- Detention (violence, humiliation, deprivation...))
- Search (e.g. abusive search)
- Policing during a demonstration (misuse of intermediate-strength weapons of type flash-ball).
These behaviors can also be observed in another context, outside the judicial or prison framework: supermarkets, customs, airports, etc.
You can contact the Defender of Rights if you are a victim or witness of behavior by law enforcement or security agents that seems illegal to you.
You can also do this if you are the representative or the person entitled of a direct victim.
You can do this by line, on-site or by post :
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Online
You can enter the Defender of Rights using this online service :
On site
You can make an appointment with a representative of the Defender of Rights.
Who shall I contact
FYI
The Defender of Rights' delegates allow you to access local support on your rights and if necessary, direct you to a structure that can better help you. You can find them in places of permanence (prefectures, sub-prefectures, houses of justice and law...).)
By post
You can contact the Defender of Rights or one of its delegates by post.
Who shall I contact
By post (from France, free and without postage)
Defender of rights
Free answer 71120
75342 Paris cedex 07
Warning: attach to your mail photocopies of the documents relating to your referral.
By email
Access to contact form
Warning
The fact of referring the matter to the Defender of Rights does not suspend the time limits for initiating proceedings legal action.
The Defender of Rights has several means of action.
Broad investigative powers
Request for explanations
The investigation procedure shall be conducted by comparing the views of the claimant (the person making a claim to the Defender of Rights) and the person complained against (the person against whom the claim is made). This is the adversarial principle.
The Defender of Rights may request explanations from any natural person or moral questioned before him.
The persons involved must facilitate the accomplishment of its mission.
They must authorize their agents and attendants to respond to the requests of the Defender of Rights. Staff members must respond to requests for explanations made by the latter.
Summons to a hearing
The Defender of Rights may summon the officers.
Summonses must state the subject of the hearing.
FYI
Persons to whom the Ombudsman requests explanations may be assisted by counsel of their choice (for example, by a lawyer). A record of the hearing shall be drawn up and given to the person being heard.
On-site verifications
The Defender of Rights may also carry out checks on site in the premises public services or bodies entrusted with a public service mission, and in the locations, premises, means of publicly accessible transport and in the professional premises exclusively dedicated to this use.
During on-the-spot checks, the Ombudsman may hear any person who can provide information.
A report is drawn up by the lawyers of the Defender of Rights.
Formal notice in case of refusal to cooperate
If the Defender of Rights does not obtain no answer at his request for information, he may put in formal noticeinterested persons to reply to it within a time limit to be fixed by the Council.
Where the formal notice is not acted upon, he may refer the matter to the judge hearing the application for interim measures to request it to order any measure necessary to obtain the information requested.
In case of discriminatory behavior
If it is a question of proving behavior discriminatory, the Ombudsman may decide to implement a test procedure in situation, also known as " testing ».
This procedure consists in comparing the attitude of the person tested towards a reference candidate and a candidate who could be discriminated against.
Amicable settlement of claims
The out-of-court settlement is privileged when complaints indicate, for example, a procedural error, a misunderstanding, a failure of an administration. In this case, the Defender of Rights intervenes by facilitating dialog between all those concerned. It proposes a suitable solution to avoid legal action.
The amicable settlement may take different shapes (informal settlement, mediation or criminal settlement).
Informal Regulation
Simple exchanges of letters or emails sometimes make it possible to resolve the situation in a simple and quick manner.
Mediation
The Defender of Rights may also try to set the litigation by arranging mediation between the law enforcement officers involved and you.
Please note
Mediation is regulated by law. In particular, it makes it possible to guarantee confidentiality of exchanges between you and the accused.
Criminal proceedings in cases of discrimination
Where the facts of the case suggest the existence of a criminal offense, the Defender of Rights shall inform the public prosecutor.
The Defender of Rights may propose to the parties (the defendant and you) a criminal settlement (fine, compensation of the victim, publicity of the facts).
The criminal transaction must be registered by the public prosecutor. If the defendant refuses the settlement, the Defender of Rights may initiate a criminal prosecution in court against the defendant.
Recommendations
The Defender of Rights may any recommendation to ensure that your rights and freedoms are respected and to resolve or prevent the renewal of the problems raised before it.
The competent authority or the person concerned shall inform the Defender of Rights, within the time limit set by him, of the action taken on his recommendations.
If the competent authority or the accused person does not provide information within the time limit, or if the Defender of Rights considers, on the basis of the information received, that the recommendation has not been implemented, he may order him to take specific measures within a specified time limit.
Where no action has been taken on its injunction, the Defender of Rights shall establish a special report. The report shall be communicated to the respondent and published.
The Defender of Rights may decide to publish the respondent's reply as well.
Request for sanctions
If the Defender of Rights finds in his investigation facts that merit disciplinary action, he may request the competent authority to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the authors.
The competent authority must inform the Defender of Rights of the action taken on his request and, if he has not initiated disciplinary proceedings, provide him with the reasons for this decision.
If the competent authority does not provide information within the time limit or if the Defender of Rights considers, on the basis of the information received, that his request has not been followed up by the necessary measures, he may establish a special report. This report shall be communicated to the competent authority.
The Defender of Rights may decide to publish this special report and, if deemed necessary, the response of the authority.
Observations before the judge
The Defender of Rights cannot not to challenge a court decision but it may have written or oral submissions at the request of civil, administrative or criminal courts or at the request of parties.
If you believe that you are a victim or witness of illegal behavior by national police officers, you can contact the Inspectorate General of National Police (IGPN) online.
To do this, you can submit a complaint online:
Report the behavior of an officer to the Inspectorate General of the National Police (IGPN)
You will be informed of the follow-up to your report by email.
Any false denunciation is systematically reported to the judicial authority and can be the subject of a complaint from the Ministry of the Interior.
Please note
This statement does not constitute a lodging a complaint. The alert enables the IGPN to be informed of the facts and, if necessary, to carry out the checks falling within its competence.
Municipal Police
Are you a victim or witness of events that seem to you to be contrary to the ethics of municipal police officers? You can alert the Defender of rights. You can also alert the mayor. In any case, you can choose to enter one or the other, or both in a complementary way. We guide you.
The Defender of Rights ensures compliance with ethics by persons carrying out security activities in France.
You can enter it for free.
It may intervene in security activities carried out by the following persons:
- Public security officers (police, gendarmes, customs officers, prison guards, rangers or foresters...))
- Agents of bodies entrusted with a public service mission (e.g. public transport supervisory agents)
- Employees of private security companies (guarding, surveillance, cash transport services...).)
The facts must occur in the professional framework of agents, it may be one of the following situations :
- Detention or custody (violence, humiliation, deprivation...))
- Identity control (abuse of power, discrimination...))
- Filing a complaint (refusal, contempt, moral judgment...))
- Detention (violence, humiliation, deprivation...))
- Search (e.g. abusive search)
- Policing during a demonstration (misuse of intermediate-strength weapons of type flash-ball).
These behaviors can also be observed in another context, outside the judicial or prison framework: supermarkets, customs, airports, etc.
You can contact the Defender of Rights if you are a victim or witness of behavior by law enforcement or security agents that seems illegal to you.
You can also do this if you are the representative or the person entitled of a direct victim.
You can do this by line, on-site or by post :
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Online
You can enter the Defender of Rights using this online service :
On site
You can make an appointment with a representative of the Defender of Rights.
Who shall I contact
FYI
The Defender of Rights' delegates allow you to access local support on your rights and if necessary, direct you to a structure that can better help you. You can find them in places of permanence (prefectures, sub-prefectures, houses of justice and law...).)
By post
You can contact the Defender of Rights or one of its delegates by post.
Who shall I contact
By post (from France, free and without postage)
Defender of rights
Free answer 71120
75342 Paris cedex 07
Warning: attach to your mail photocopies of the documents relating to your referral.
By email
Access to contact form
Warning
Referral to the Defender of Rights does not suspend the time limits for initiating a complaint legal action.
The Defender of Rights has several means of action :
Broad investigative powers
Request for explanations
The investigation procedure shall be conducted by comparing the views of the claimant (the person making a claim to the Defender of Rights) and the person complained against (the person against whom the claim is made). This is the adversarial principle.
The Defender of Rights may request explanations from any natural person or moral questioned before him.
The persons involved must facilitate the accomplishment of its mission.
They must authorize their agents and attendants to respond to the requests of the Defender of Rights. Staff members must respond to requests for explanations made by the latter.
Summons to a hearing
The Defender of Rights may summon the officers.
Summonses must state the subject of the hearing.
FYI
Persons to whom the Ombudsman requests explanations may be assisted by counsel of their choice (for example, by a lawyer). A record of the hearing shall be drawn up and given to the person being heard.
On-site verifications
The Defender of Rights may also carry out checks on site in the premises public services or bodies entrusted with a public service mission, and in the locations, premises, means of publicly accessible transport and in the professional premises exclusively dedicated to this use.
During on-the-spot checks, the Ombudsman may hear any person who can provide information.
A report is drawn up by the lawyers of the Defender of Rights.
Formal notice in case of refusal to cooperate
If the Defender of Rights does not obtain no answer at his request for information, he may put in formal noticeinterested persons to reply to it within a time limit to be fixed by the Council.
Where the formal notice is not acted upon, he may refer the matter to the judge hearing the application for interim measures to request it to order any measure necessary to obtain the information requested.
In case of discriminatory behavior
If it is a question of proving behavior discriminatory, the Ombudsman may decide to implement a test procedure in situation, also known as " testing ».
This procedure consists in comparing the attitude of the person tested towards a reference candidate and a candidate who could be discriminated against.
Amicable settlement of claims
The out-of-court settlement is privileged when complaints indicate, for example, a procedural error, a misunderstanding, a failure of an administration. In this case, the Defender of Rights intervenes by facilitating dialog between all those concerned. It proposes a suitable solution to avoid legal action.
The amicable settlement may take different shapes (informal settlement, mediation or criminal settlement).
Informal Regulation
Simple exchanges of letters or emails sometimes make it possible to resolve the situation in a simple and quick manner.
Mediation
The Defender of Rights may also try to set the litigation by arranging mediation between the law enforcement officers involved and you.
Please note
Mediation is regulated by law. In particular, it makes it possible to guarantee confidentiality of exchanges between you and the accused.
Criminal proceedings in cases of discrimination
Where the facts of the case suggest the existence of a criminal offense, the Defender of Rights shall inform the public prosecutor.
The Defender of Rights may propose to the parties (the defendant and you) a criminal settlement (fine, compensation of the victim, publicity of the facts).
The criminal transaction must be registered by the public prosecutor. If the defendant refuses the settlement, the Defender of Rights may initiate a criminal prosecution in court against the defendant.
Recommendations
The Defender of Rights may any recommendation to ensure that your rights and freedoms are respected and to resolve or prevent the renewal of the problems raised before it.
The competent authority or the person concerned shall inform the Defender of Rights, within the time limit set by him, of the action taken on his recommendations.
If the competent authority or the accused person does not provide information within the time limit, or if the Defender of Rights considers, on the basis of the information received, that the recommendation has not been implemented, he may order him to take specific measures within a specified time limit.
Where no action has been taken on its injunction, the Defender of Rights shall establish a special report. The report shall be communicated to the respondent and published.
The Defender of Rights may decide to publish the respondent's reply as well.
Request for sanctions
If the Defender of Rights finds in his investigation facts that merit disciplinary action, he may request the competent authority to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the authors.
The competent authority must inform the Defender of Rights of the action taken on his request and, if he has not initiated disciplinary proceedings, provide him with the reasons for this decision.
If the competent authority does not provide information within the time limit or if the Defender of Rights considers, on the basis of the information received, that his request has not been followed up by the necessary measures, he may establish a special report. This report shall be communicated to the competent authority.
The Defender of Rights may decide to publish this special report and, if deemed necessary, the response of the authority.
Observations before the judge
The Defender of Rights cannot not to challenge a court decision but it may have written or oral submissions at the request of civil, administrative or criminal courts or at the request of parties.
If you believe that you are a victim or witness of illegal behavior by municipal police officers, you must contact the town hall of the municipality concerned and send it your complaint or complaint.
Please note
This statement does not constitute a lodging a complaint. The alert allows the mayor to be informed of the facts and, if necessary, to carry out checks within his competence.
Police Force
Are you a victim or witness of events that seem to you to be contrary to the ethics of the gendarmes? You can alert the Defender of rights. You can also alert the General Inspectorate of the National Gendarmerie (IGGN). In any case, you can choose to enter one or the other, or both in a complementary way. We guide you.
The Defender of Rights ensures compliance with ethics by persons carrying out security activities in France.
You can enter it for free.
It may intervene in security activities carried out by the following persons:
- Public security officers (police, gendarmes, customs officers, prison guards, rangers or foresters...))
- Agents of bodies entrusted with a public service mission (e.g. public transport supervisory agents)
- Employees of private security companies (guarding, surveillance, cash transport services...).)
The facts must occur in the professional framework of agents, it may be one of the following situations :
- Detention or custody (violence, humiliation, deprivation...))
- Identity control (abuse of power, discrimination...))
- Filing a complaint (refusal, contempt, moral judgment...))
- Detention (violence, humiliation, deprivation...))
- Search (e.g. abusive search)
- Policing during a demonstration (misuse of intermediate-strength weapons of type flash-ball).
These behaviors can also be observed in another context, outside the judicial or prison framework: supermarkets, customs, airports, etc.
You can contact the Defender of Rights if you are a victim or witness of behavior by law enforcement or security agents that seems illegal to you.
You can also do this if you are the representative or the person entitled of a direct victim.
You can do this by line, on-site or by post :
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Online
You can enter the Defender of Rights using this online service :
On site
You can make an appointment with a representative of the Defender of Rights.
Who shall I contact
FYI
The Defender of Rights' delegates allow you to access local support on your rights and if necessary, direct you to a structure that can better help you. You can find them in places of permanence (prefectures, sub-prefectures, houses of justice and law...).)
By post
You can contact the Defender of Rights or one of its delegates by post.
Who shall I contact
By post (from France, free and without postage)
Defender of rights
Free answer 71120
75342 Paris cedex 07
Warning: attach to your mail photocopies of the documents relating to your referral.
By email
Access to contact form
Warning
Referral to the Defender of Rights does not suspend the time limits for initiating a complaint legal action.
The Defender of Rights has several means of action :
Broad investigative powers
Request for explanations
The investigation procedure shall be conducted by comparing the views of the claimant (the person making a claim to the Defender of Rights) and the person complained against (the person against whom the claim is made). This is the adversarial principle.
The Defender of Rights may request explanations from any natural person or moral questioned before him.
The persons involved must facilitate the accomplishment of its mission.
They must authorize their agents and attendants to respond to the requests of the Defender of Rights. Staff members must respond to requests for explanations made by the latter.
Summons to a hearing
The Defender of Rights may summon the officers.
Summonses must state the subject of the hearing.
FYI
Persons to whom the Ombudsman requests explanations may be assisted by counsel of their choice (for example, by a lawyer). A record of the hearing shall be drawn up and given to the person being heard.
On-site verifications
The Defender of Rights may also carry out checks on site in the premises public services or bodies entrusted with a public service mission, and in the locations, premises, means of publicly accessible transport and in the professional premises exclusively dedicated to this use.
During on-the-spot checks, the Ombudsman may hear any person who can provide information.
A report is drawn up by the lawyers of the Defender of Rights.
Formal notice in case of refusal to cooperate
If the Defender of Rights does not obtain no answer at his request for information, he may put in formal noticeinterested persons to reply to it within a time limit to be fixed by the Council.
Where the formal notice is not acted upon, he may refer the matter to the judge hearing the application for interim measures to request it to order any measure necessary to obtain the information requested.
In case of discriminatory behavior
If it is a question of proving behavior discriminatory, the Ombudsman may decide to implement a test procedure in situation, also known as " testing ».
This procedure consists in comparing the attitude of the person tested towards a reference candidate and a candidate who could be discriminated against.
Amicable settlement of claims
The out-of-court settlement is privileged when complaints indicate, for example, a procedural error, a misunderstanding, a failure of an administration. In this case, the Defender of Rights intervenes by facilitating dialog between all those concerned. It proposes a suitable solution to avoid legal action.
The amicable settlement may take different shapes (informal settlement, mediation or criminal settlement).
Informal Regulation
Simple exchanges of letters or emails sometimes make it possible to resolve the situation in a simple and quick manner.
Mediation
The Defender of Rights may also try to set the litigation by arranging mediation between the law enforcement officers involved and you.
Please note
Mediation is regulated by law. In particular, it makes it possible to guarantee confidentiality of exchanges between you and the accused.
Criminal proceedings in cases of discrimination
Where the facts of the case suggest the existence of a criminal offense, the Defender of Rights shall inform the public prosecutor.
The Defender of Rights may propose to the parties (the defendant and you) a criminal settlement (fine, compensation of the victim, publicity of the facts).
The criminal transaction must be registered by the public prosecutor. If the defendant refuses the settlement, the Defender of Rights may initiate a criminal prosecution in court against the defendant.
Recommendations
The Defender of Rights may any recommendation to ensure that your rights and freedoms are respected and to resolve or prevent the renewal of the problems raised before it.
The competent authority or the person concerned shall inform the Defender of Rights, within the time limit set by him, of the action taken on his recommendations.
If the competent authority or the accused person does not provide information within the time limit, or if the Defender of Rights considers, on the basis of the information received, that the recommendation has not been implemented, he may order him to take specific measures within a specified time limit.
Where no action has been taken on its injunction, the Defender of Rights shall establish a special report. The report shall be communicated to the respondent and published.
The Defender of Rights may decide to publish the respondent's reply as well.
Request for sanctions
If the Defender of Rights finds in his investigation facts that merit disciplinary action, he may request the competent authority to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the authors.
The competent authority must inform the Defender of Rights of the action taken on his request and, if he has not initiated disciplinary proceedings, provide him with the reasons for this decision.
If the competent authority does not provide information within the time limit or if the Defender of Rights considers, on the basis of the information received, that his request has not been followed up by the necessary measures, he may establish a special report. This report shall be communicated to the competent authority.
The Defender of Rights may decide to publish this special report and, if deemed necessary, the response of the authority.
Observations before the judge
The Defender of Rights cannot not to challenge a court decision but it may have written or oral submissions at the request of civil, administrative or criminal courts or at the request of parties.
If you wish to bring to the attention of the IGGN facts that appear to you to be illegal, you can submit a complaint online:
Report the behavior of an officer to the Inspectorate General of the National Gendarmerie (IGGN)
You will be informed of the follow-up to your report by email.
Any false denunciation is systematically reported to the judicial authority and can be the subject of a complaint from the Ministry of the Interior.
Please note
This statement does not constitute a lodging a complaint. The alert enables the IGGN to be informed of the facts and, if necessary, to carry out the checks falling within its competence.
Private Security company
Are you a victim or witness of behavior by security agents that seems illegal to you? You can report to the Defender of rights.
The Defender of Rights ensures compliance with ethics by persons carrying out security activities in France.
You can enter it for free.
It may intervene in security activities carried out by the following persons:
- Public security officers (police, gendarmes, customs officers, prison guards, rangers or foresters...))
- Agents of bodies entrusted with a public service mission (e.g. public transport supervisory agents)
- Employees of private security companies (guarding, surveillance, cash transport services...).)
The facts must occur in the professional framework of agents, it may be one of the following situations :
- Detention or custody (violence, humiliation, deprivation...))
- Identity control (abuse of power, discrimination...))
- Filing a complaint (refusal, contempt, moral judgment...))
- Detention (violence, humiliation, deprivation...))
- Search (e.g. abusive search)
- Policing during a demonstration (misuse of intermediate-strength weapons of type flash-ball).
These behaviors can also be observed in another context, outside the judicial or prison framework: supermarkets, customs, airports, etc.
You can contact the Defender of Rights if you are a victim or witness of behavior by law enforcement or security agents that seems illegal to you.
You can also do this if you are the representative or the person entitled of a direct victim.
You can do this by line, on-site or by post :
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Online
You can enter the Defender of Rights using this online service :
On site
You can make an appointment with a representative of the Defender of Rights.
Who shall I contact
FYI
The Defender of Rights' delegates allow you to access local support on your rights and if necessary, direct you to a structure that can better help you. You can find them in places of permanence (prefectures, sub-prefectures, houses of justice and law...).)
By post
You can contact the Defender of Rights or one of its delegates by post.
Who shall I contact
By post (from France, free and without postage)
Defender of rights
Free answer 71120
75342 Paris cedex 07
Warning: attach to your mail photocopies of the documents relating to your referral.
By email
Access to contact form
Warning
Referral to the Defender of Rights does not suspend the time limits for initiating a complaint legal action.
The Defender of Rights first verifies that your application falls within his jurisdiction.
If not, they will tell you why they cannot process your file and refer you to the people or organizations that can help you.
If the Defender of Rights considers that your request falls within his jurisdiction, he will open an investigation to gather information allowing him to know the situation, before taking a decision.
Broad investigative powers
Request for explanations
The investigation procedure shall be conducted by comparing the views of the claimant (the person making a claim to the Defender of Rights) and the person complained against (the person against whom the claim is made). This is the adversarial principle.
The Defender of Rights may request explanations from any natural person or moral questioned before him.
The persons involved must facilitate the accomplishment of its mission.
They are required to authorize their agents and attendants to respond to the requests of the Defender of Rights. Staff members are required to respond to requests for explanations from the latter.
Summons to a hearing
The Defender of Rights may summon the officers.
Summonses must state the subject of the hearing.
FYI
Persons to whom the Ombudsman requests explanations may be assisted by counsel of their choice (for example, by a lawyer). A record of the hearing shall be drawn up and given to the person being heard.
On-site verifications
The Defender of Rights may also carry out checks on site in the premises public services or bodies entrusted with a public service mission, and in the locations, premises, means of publicly accessible transport and in the professional premises exclusively dedicated to this use.
During on-the-spot checks, the Ombudsman may hear any person who can provide information.
A report is drawn up by the lawyers of the Defender of Rights.
Formal notice in case of refusal to cooperate
If the Defender of Rights does not obtain no answer at his request for information, he may put in formal notice interested persons to reply to it within a time limit to be fixed by the Council.
Where the formal notice is not acted upon, he may refer the matter to the judge hearing the application for interim measures to request it to order any measure necessary to obtain the information requested.
In case of discriminatory behavior
If it is a question of proving behavior discriminatory, the Ombudsman may decide to implement a test procedure in situation, also known as " testing ».
This procedure consists in comparing the attitude of the person tested towards a reference candidate and a candidate who could be discriminated against.
Amicable settlement of claims
The out-of-court settlement is privileged when the claims indicate, for example, a procedural error, a misunderstanding. In this case, the Defender of Rights intervenes by facilitating dialog between all those concerned. It proposes a suitable solution to avoid legal action.
The amicable settlement may take different shapes (informal settlement, mediation or criminal settlement).
Informal Regulation
Simple exchanges of letters or emails sometimes make it possible to resolve the situation in a simple and quick manner.
Mediation
The Defender of Rights may also try to set the litigation by arranging mediation between the security agency involved and you.
Please note
Mediation is regulated by law. In particular, it makes it possible to guarantee confidentiality of exchanges between you and the accused.
Criminal proceedings in cases of discrimination
Where the facts of the case suggest the existence of a criminal offense, the Defender of Rights shall inform the public prosecutor.
The Defender of Rights may propose to the parties (the defendant and you) a criminal settlement (fine, compensation of the victim, publicity of the facts).
The criminal transaction must be registered by the public prosecutor. If the defendant refuses the settlement, the Defender of Rights may initiate a criminal prosecution in court against the defendant.
Recommendations
The Defender of Rights may any recommendation to ensure that your rights and freedoms are respected and to resolve or prevent the renewal of the problems raised before it.
The competent authority or the person concerned shall inform the Defender of Rights, within the time limit set by him, of the action taken on his recommendations.
If the competent authority or the accused person does not provide information within the time limit, or if the Defender of Rights considers, on the basis of the information received, that the recommendation has not been implemented, he may order him to take specific measures within a specified time limit.
Where no action has been taken on its injunction, the Defender of Rights shall establish a special report. The report shall be communicated to the respondent and published.
The Defender of Rights may decide to publish the respondent's reply as well.
Request for sanctions
If the Defender of Rights finds in his investigation facts that merit disciplinary action, he may request the competent authority to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the authors.
The competent authority must inform the Defender of Rights of the action taken on his request and, if he has not initiated disciplinary proceedings, provide him with the reasons for this decision.
If the competent authority does not provide information within the time limit or if the Defender of Rights considers, on the basis of the information received, that his request has not been followed up by the necessary measures, he may establish a special report. This report shall be communicated to the competent authority.
The Defender of Rights may decide to publish this special report and, if deemed necessary, the response of the authority.
Observations before the judge
The Defender of Rights cannot not to challenge a court decision, but it may present written or oral submissions at the request of civil, administrative or criminal courts or at the request of parties.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Defender of rights
By post (from France, free and without postage)
Defender of rights
Free answer 71120
75342 Paris cedex 07
Warning: attach to your mail photocopies of the documents relating to your referral.
By email
Access to contact form
Defender of rights