A twelve-page letter from Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has ignited a fierce debate within France’s law enforcement community, with police unions calling on Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to publicly defend officers against accusations of systemic failures in handling child sexual abuse cases. The note, dated July 29 and revealed by Le Monde on August 8, catalogues severe deficiencies identified by prosecutors across the country, including cases in “total abandonment” or “simply lost,” a “phantom stock” of unprocessed files, and critical shortages in staffing and training.
The controversy stems from the Lyhanna affair, which exposed significant dysfunctions in the judicial handling of child abuse complaints. In response, Darmanin requested a comprehensive review of all child-related complaints, soliciting reports from 37 prosecutors general. The resulting synthesis paints a grim picture of the investigative pipeline, though Darmanin was careful to attribute the problems to “staffing, training, tools, and management, not the will of field personnel.”
Nuñez Promises Point-by-Point Response
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced Thursday that he would “respond point by point” to the accusations, a move welcomed by police unions who have accused Darmanin—himself a former Interior Minister for over four years—of “betrayal.” In a detailed message on social media platform X, Nuñez promised “argued responses” to each prosecutor general’s observations, stating the work would “restore certain truths” while continuing efforts begun in 2017.
During a press briefing, Nuñez announced the creation of 700 new judicial investigation positions for 2027, following a similar allocation in 2026. He acknowledged the judicial branch is “suffering” and cited a revaluation plan with financial incentives approved in the 2026 budget. These measures align with the “Plan Investigation” presented to unions in March, aimed at strengthening the criminal police.
Police Unions Voice Frustration and Defend Officers
Union leaders argue the core issue is overwhelming caseloads, not officer negligence. “The volume of complaints has exploded, but we don’t have the means to process them,” said Jean-Christophe Couvy, national secretary of the Un1té police union. “The system is clogged, and citizens are lost in it.”
Thierry Clair, secretary general of Unsa-Police, noted the malaise in the judicial branch is “so profound” that changes will “take time.” He emphasized the need to make investigation work attractive again, citing recruitment difficulties. “Before, it was the queen of career paths. Today, there is disaffection,” Clair said.
Retired Seine-Saint-Denis minors’ brigade chief Rémy Borel, who spent 29 years in the unit, called the letter “hard” and said it gives the impression “we do nothing and we’re secretive.” He defended his former colleagues as “volunteers” despite difficult hours, while acknowledging some cited examples—such as a reservist conducting phone interviews with children under ten—are “totally aberrant.”
Structural Challenges and Calls for Reform
Beyond staffing, police representatives point to procedural complexity and outdated digital tools as major obstacles. “Criminal procedure has become undrinkable,” Clair said, noting the problem dates back to the early 2000s. Borel highlighted the increased responsibility investigators face in prioritizing cases, while Couvy stressed that not every officer has the aptitude for child abuse investigations.
“You can train police officers, but not everyone has the appetite for this work,” Couvy said, recalling his own three-day internship in a minors’ brigade during police academy. “It was unbearable. I didn’t have the patience to build rapport with a pedocriminal to extract information.”
The Interior Ministry insists the note is “a working document, not a truth” and remains under expert review. Darmanin has proposed a meeting on September 3 to discuss the findings, but Nuñez’s entourage is “not convinced” by that date and prefers to wait until a comprehensive response with improvement proposals is ready.
Meanwhile, Nuñez announced the creation of new “Mélanie rooms”—specialized spaces for interviewing young victims—to add to the 378 existing facilities, and cited continuous increases in training, with 22,000 officers already certified in child victim interviews.
