Thousands Rally Across France Demanding Increased Police Resources Amid Rising Violence

On January 31, 2026, nationwide protests organized by the Alliance Police Nationale union drew thousands of police officers and supporters to the streets of about 23 French cities, including Paris, Lyon, and Marseille. The demonstrations called for increased police funding and resources to address rising insecurity and violent crime. In Paris alone, attendance estimates ranged between 15,000 and 20,000 protesters, with participants marching peacefully under slogans such as "Citizens with the police, stop insecurity, stop impunity," and "Without police, it’s chaos."

The protests highlighted frustrations over challenging working conditions and insufficient governmental support. Fabien Vanhemelryck, general secretary of Alliance, declared that the national police can no longer operate under normal conditions due to resource shortages. Complementing these sentiments, Gaëlle James, secretary general of the Synergie officiers union, emphasized the urgency of tackling increasing violent youth delinquency and securing better working environments for officers.

Significant political figures, including far-right representatives Sarah Knafo, Thierry Mariani, and Marion Maréchal, attended the Paris march, while in Nice, hundreds of police marched alongside right-wing and far-right elected officials. However, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez notably declined the union’s invitation to participate, citing a duty of neutrality. His absence drew criticism from police leaders who called for stronger political backing.

Despite France’s annual police budget of approximately 18 billion euros, union leaders argued for increased financial commitment to prioritize security measures in response to escalating violence. The demonstrations proceeded without incident, reflecting broad public support for law enforcement and underscoring the stark divide between frontline officers’ needs and government action.

The protests mark a critical moment in France’s ongoing debate over security policies, with police unions signaling that the government holds the responsibility to address the systemic lack of resources threatening effective policing nationwide.