PARIS — Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Paris and more than 20 other cities across France on Saturday, January 31, 2026, as part of a nationwide protest organized by the Alliance Police Nationale union and supported by other police associations, calling for stronger institutional backing, improved working conditions, and increased resources for law enforcement.
Organizers estimated 15,000 to 20,000 people joined the main march in the capital, which began at Place de la Bastille and proceeded to Place de la Nation under a large banner reading “Citizens with the police, stop insecurity, stop impunity.” Parallel demonstrations took place in Marseille, Nice, Lille, Bordeaux, Lyon, Toulouse, Strasbourg, and several overseas territories.
Cyril Benoit, zonal secretary of the SNIPAT union (Independent Union of Interior Ministry Staff), which represents administrative, technical, and scientific personnel within the national police, told Anadolu Agency: “We are not here to ask for pay rises. We are here to ask for staff and basic resources.”
Benoit highlighted chronic shortages of essential equipment and facilities in many police stations. “In many places we lack functional toilets, showers, changing rooms, proper work clothing, and even working printers. Our vehicles are old, and mobility is a real issue. We want recognition, respect, and the means to do our jobs properly,” he said.
He noted that staffing shortages affect both day and night shifts, sometimes forcing reduced patrol coverage. In the Hauts-de-Seine department alone, the Alliance Police union reported a net loss of 200 officers since 2020. Yannick Le Bihan, a local union representative in the region, told French media: “We are stretched to the limit. Working conditions are catastrophic, officers are buried under files, and nothing works as promised.”
Protesters also raised concerns about rising violence against police officers and perceived judicial vulnerability. Alice Cardier, director of the Nemesis collective — a group supporting law enforcement — joined the Paris march to express solidarity. “Many police officers feel insecure, especially on the judicial level. Some end up in prison simply for defending themselves,” she told Anadolu.
Cardier argued that violent attacks on officers during protests often go unpunished, eroding respect for law enforcement. “Police officers also have the right to self-defense. We are a generation that supports its police and will no longer accept seeing them attacked or demonized,” she added.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez did not attend the demonstration, citing union election neutrality rules that prohibit ministerial participation. In a statement, however, he expressed support: “Even though I will not participate personally, the police movement has my full support and understanding.”
Nuñez outlined government measures taken since 2017, including the creation of 12,500 security jobs, doubling investment in police facilities, the purchase of 19,000 new vehicles, and an additional €100 million ($119 million) allocated to the national police budget. He also announced plans to create 1,000 new police positions, including 700 within the judicial police branch, which he described as under severe strain.
Despite these steps, police unions insist that staffing shortages, deteriorating working conditions, and insufficient operational resources remain critical and unresolved issues. Union leaders argue that without mass recruitment and substantial investment in equipment and infrastructure, the ability to maintain public safety — particularly during large-scale events — will continue to deteriorate.
The Paris march remained peaceful, with no major incidents reported. Similar gatherings in other cities also proceeded without significant disruption. Organizers vowed to maintain pressure through further demonstrations and dialogue with authorities until concrete improvements are implemented.
The protests reflect growing frustration within France’s law enforcement community amid broader debates over public security, police violence allegations, judicial treatment of officers, and resource allocation in an era of heightened security challenges and social tensions.
