France - The Defender of Rights - Upholding security ethics

Upholding security ethics
The Defender of Rights is charged with seeing to it that professional ethics are observed by persons performing security activities on French soil.
Professional ethics include all of the rules of proper conduct for a given profession. In terms of security, they focus on respecting persons and protecting individual freedoms.
You may appeal to the Defender of Rights if you are the victim of or witness to actions you believe to be contrary to the ethical code concerning security.

Who can refer a case to the Defender of Rights?

• persons who believe they are a victim of a breach of security ethics, whether of French or foreign citizenship, residing in France or abroad
• the family members, legal guardians or beneficiaries of the alleged victim
• a witness to acts which might constitute a breach of security ethics
• the Defender of Rights can also take up a case on his own initiative when a breach of ethics is suspected

What security agents does this include?
The security agents concerned include the:

• national police
• gendarmes
• municipal police
• customs agents
• officers of the prison system
• agents monitoring public transports
• members of law enforcement agencies
• private investigators
• agents of surveillance services, security guards
• cash transport personnel

Where do I start?
You can appeal to the Defender of Rights free of charge by referring your complaint directly to the Defender of Rights. More...