Rights groups accuse French police of discriminatory fines

Human Rights Watch, (RE)Claim and Maison communautaire pour un développement solidaire (MCDS) claim that French police routinely issue fines for minor public order offenses in a discriminatory manner against young people of Arab and African origin.

Report's European bureau informs that this was stated in a report titled "Paying the Price of Police Harassment," published on June 17.

The study is based on 42 interviews conducted in Paris and its surrounding areas in 2025-2026. The authors claim that police regularly issue fines for what is known as the "magic trio" - noise in public places, littering and what is usually described as "unauthorized disposal of polluting liquids."

"Police are abusing their power to issue fines by targeting young Africans and Arabs, which is an example of discrimination," the report said.

The authors claim that the fines have become an additional tool of pressure against young people who already frequently face identity checks, searches and police stops.

Rights defenders also say the current system allows police officers to independently determine whether an offense has been committed without judicial oversight.

Paris rejects accusations of systematic abuses. The report noted that French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said fined citizens have the right to appeal and that the system remains an "indispensable tool" for ensuring everyday security.