French police union condemns Gérald Darmanin letter over handling of child sexual abuse cases

Sunday 09 August 2026 - 09:30

By: Sahili Aya

French police union condemns Gérald Darmanin letter over handling of child sexual abuse cases

A French police commissioners’ union has sharply criticised Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin following the publication of a letter detailing serious shortcomings in the handling of sexual violence cases involving children.

The dispute adds another layer to tensions between the justice system and law enforcement, after Darmanin previously faced criticism from magistrates over his assessment of institutional failures and individual mistakes in the handling of the Lyhanna case.

Darmanin points to a “shadow stock” of cases

In a 12-page document sent to Laurent Nuñez on July 29, the justice minister highlighted what he described as major weaknesses in the way investigations into sexual violence against minors are processed.

Among the issues identified was the existence of a vast “shadow stock” of cases. According to information reported by Le Monde and cited in the source article, these files had not been recorded by judicial authorities because they had not been transmitted by police or gendarmerie services.

The allegation has raised concerns about the tracking of investigations and the flow of information between law enforcement agencies and the justice system.

Darmanin’s document reportedly presents a broader list of institutional and operational problems in the handling of cases involving children.

Police commissioners react angrily

The Syndicat des commissaires de la Police nationale (SCPN) reacted strongly to the minister’s intervention, describing itself as “disgusted” by the contents and tone of the letter.

For the police union, the document has intensified an already sensitive debate over responsibility for shortcomings in criminal investigations. The organisation’s reaction reflects concerns within the police hierarchy about the way officers and their work are being portrayed by the justice minister.

The controversy comes after Darmanin’s earlier criticism of judicial dysfunctions and individual errors during the Lyhanna affair, which had already generated an angry response from sections of the magistracy.

Tensions between justice and law enforcement

The latest dispute illustrates the difficult relationship between prosecutors, judges and investigators when serious failures emerge in the processing of criminal cases.

Cases involving sexual violence against minors are particularly sensitive because delays or failures in transmitting information can have significant consequences for the effectiveness of investigations and the protection of victims.

The debate now centres not only on the existence and scale of the alleged backlog, but also on how responsibilities should be allocated between police, gendarmerie and judicial authorities.

As the government examines the reported shortcomings, pressure is likely to increase on the institutions involved to clarify procedures, improve coordination and ensure that cases are properly recorded and transmitted.