Sexual violence against minors: police officers await a firm response from Laurent Nuñez

The twelve-page memo sent on July 29th by Gérald Darmanin to Laurent Nuñez continues to provoke anger among police officers. Based on 37 reports submitted by the public prosecutor's offices, the document lists serious difficulties in handling cases of sexual violence against minors: abandoned or lost proceedings, cases invisible in statistics, lack of training, inadequate tools, and insufficient staffing. The Minister of Justice clarifies that these problems do not stem from a lack of commitment on the part of investigators, but his assessment is perceived as an accusation by some within the profession.

The memo comes after the Lyhanna case, involving an 11-year-old schoolgirl found dead in the Gers region, whose main suspect had been the subject of several complaints of sexual assault without ever being prosecuted. Unions are particularly critical of Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior for over four years, for now denouncing the shortcomings of a system he himself led. Several police officers acknowledge the existence of malfunctions, but dispute the reported number of lost cases and denounce a document that gives the impression that the services have remained inactive.

Investigative services facing backlogs

Laurent Nuñez promised to respond "point by point" to the magistrates' observations and to "set the record straight." The Minister of the Interior nevertheless acknowledged that the judicial system is struggling, facing an explosion in the volume of cases, increasingly complex procedures, and a profound disaffection for investigative professions. He announced the creation of 700 additional jobs in 2027, as in 2026, the continuation of compensation increases, and the opening of new "Mélanie Rooms," specially designed to gather testimony from child victims. There are currently 378 such rooms in France, and 22,000 police officers and gendarmes have reportedly already been trained in interviewing minors.

Union representatives, however, believe that the announced recruitment will only have an impact in the medium term. They are also calling for the modernization of digital tools, more specialized training, and a genuine strategy to make investigative work more attractive. The Ministry of the Interior (Place Beauvau) states that it is continuing its review of the document before formulating a full response and proposals. Gérald Darmanin suggested a meeting on September 3, but the Ministry of the Interior does not yet wish to confirm this date, preferring to complete its verifications before publicly engaging in dialogue.