France’s culture of violent policing means the battle for its streets is far from over

French state places officers as agents of authority tasked with repressing, rather than managing, public dissent

Familiar images of teargas clouds drifting across Paris squares, police baton charges against masked protesters and terrified teenagers floored – and worse – by stun grenades have once again focused the world’s attention on France’s policing methods.

While most of its western European neighbours generally favour police tactics that prioritise crowd containment and de-escalation, France has long responded to social movements that take to the streets with at times shocking physical force.