A Paris judicial court on Tuesday, September 15, handed down a six-month suspended prison sentence to a police officer from the Motorized Violent Action Repression Brigade (BRAV-M) for violence committed against a journalist during a demonstration in July 2023.
The ruling marks a significant moment for press freedom in France, where prosecutions of law enforcement officers for assaults on reporters remain rare. The officer was also facing charges for damaging equipment belonging to independent photojournalist Florian Poitout, but was acquitted on those counts.
Violence During Memorial Demonstration
The incident occurred in July 2023 while Pierre Tremblay, a journalist with HuffPost France, was covering a demonstration in Paris commemorating Adama Traoré, who died in 2016 in a gendarmerie in the Val-d’Oise region. During the event, Tremblay was thrown to the ground by a BRAV-M officer, resulting in a wrist sprain, one week of medical leave, and three weeks of hand immobilization.
Multiple other journalists at the same demonstration also reported disproportionate use of force by police officers. Tremblay said at the time that he felt he had been targeted specifically as a journalist.
“I have been a professional journalist in France for 10 years. I have covered nearly every major news event and social movement during that period on the ground—the Yellow Vests, protests against pension reform, and others,” Tremblay said. “I know how to film in tense, sometimes violent situations without interfering with law enforcement’s work. Despite this, I observe a deterioration in relations between police and the press, particularly due to the controversial methods of the BRAV-M, a brigade created in the wake of the Yellow Vests movement.”
Legal Battle and Court Ruling
Tremblay filed a complaint with the IGPN, the French police oversight body, with full support from HuffPost’s editorial team and backing from Reporters Without Borders. The case took three years to reach trial, which was held in June of this year.
Speaking after the verdict, Tremblay expressed relief at the outcome.
“I welcome this decision with great relief. For me, convicting a police officer to six months suspended prison is a strong act,” he said. “In addition to confirming a case of violence committed by a member of the controversial BRAV-M, it is an opportunity to reaffirm our right, as journalists, to exercise our profession freely and safely during demonstrations in France.”
The officer’s defense during trial was described as unconvincing, with the accused maintaining a denial consistent with his institution’s typical stance when questioned about crowd control doctrines. Neither the officer nor his lawyer appeared in court to hear the verdict.
Significance for Press Freedom
Stéphane Maugendre, the lawyer who represented Tremblay in the case, welcomed the conclusion of the trial. Experienced in police violence cases, he emphasized the rarity of such an outcome.
Beyond the sentence itself—six months suspended and no criminal record entry—Maugendre highlighted the broader significance of the decision. He described it as “a strong signal for journalists” and “a strong signal to police officers” regarding respect for press freedom. He also noted that the lack of media coverage of the trial helped ensure calm proceedings, which only reinforces the weight of the ruling.
The convicted officer has ten days to appeal the decision.
- The BRAV-M was created following the Yellow Vests movement and has faced repeated criticism for its crowd control methods
- Journalists covering protests in France have reported increasing difficulties and hostility in recent years
- The case was supported by Reporters Without Borders, highlighting ongoing concerns about press freedom during demonstrations
