Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez presented an "investigation plan" to unions on Friday, February 27, aimed at revitalizing the national police's investigative branch. The stated objective is to strengthen investigative capabilities and improve support for victims, as nearly 3 million legal cases are awaiting processing, two years after the police organization's reform.
Among the 125 measures announced are the recruitment of 700 additional investigators and the creation of a dedicated investigative training school. The plan also includes a gross monthly bonus of €150 for the 31,500 officers in the investigative branch, as well as a high-skills bonus of €125 for 1,900 officers. Initiatives to modernize digital tools are also planned to reduce the administrative burden.
Unions are generally in favor
Several unions welcomed the announcements, while still deeming staffing levels insufficient. The Un1té police union described it as "a significant start" despite an estimated shortage of 2,000 additional investigators. Alliance, the leading union for the profession, also considered that "the signal is there" in a tight budgetary context, while calling for vigilance regarding human resources management and the backlog of cases.
The investigative branch remains marked by tensions stemming from the reform implemented under the previous Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, which placed all departmental services under the authority of a single director reporting to the prefect. This development was criticized by some members of the judicial police and by magistrates, who feared a weakening of specialized expertise.
