Paris police headquarters: an appeal filed against the injunctions targeting its psychiatric infirmary

The Paris Police Prefecture announced on Wednesday, July 15, that it had appealed to the Council of State to challenge a decision by the administrative court ordering it to take several emergency measures concerning the operation of its psychiatric infirmary (I3P). This facility admits individuals brought in by law enforcement, particularly during police custody or following public disturbances, to assess the need for psychiatric hospitalization. In 2025, 1,456 people were admitted there.

This procedure follows an inspection carried out in March by the Inspector General of Places of Deprivation of Liberty, who denounced significant dysfunctions. Following an appeal filed by the French Lawyers' Union and the Human Rights League, the administrative court ruled that several serious violations of fundamental freedoms justified immediate action.

The injunctions were contested by the prefecture.

The administrative court has notably asked the prefecture to guarantee respect for the maximum duration of forty-eight hours of detention at the I3P, to limit the use of restraint, to individualize isolation decisions and to ensure free access to toilets and drinking water for detainees.

The Paris Police Prefecture contests these injunctions, arguing that they are based on a flawed assessment of how the facility actually operates and that they could compromise the safety of both patients and staff. It also asserts that the individuals housed there often pose a significant risk, noting that more than a third of them are involved in acts of violence against others, and believes that the difficulties encountered stem in part from a lack of available places in psychiatric hospitals.