Abuse by French police slammed

THE French authorities have been criticised by Amnesty International for allowing the police to target Arab and African suspects without fear of serious repercussions.

The human rights organisation has published a report, titled France: The Search for Justice, which highlights how police had used ‘excessive and sometimes lethal force against suspects’.

Amnesty International has uncovered evidence of widespread failure of the judicial system to prosecute and punish human rights violations.

This includes a ‘two-speed justice’ that prosecutes cases brought by police officers far more quickly than those brought by their victims.

Nicola Duckworth, of Amnesty International, said: "In our view, there is effective impunity for police officers committing human rights violations.

“We have identified a widespread failure of the judicial system to effectively investigate, prosecute and punish human rights violations in law enforcement affairs.”

The report said complaints about police conduct increased by 18.5 per cent in 2004.

Amnesty International n is calling for the French authorities to create an independent mechanism to investigate all allegations of serious human rights violations.

The French authorities are preparing a response to the allegations.