Gérald Darmanin proposes extending police custody in cases of sexual violence and femicides

Three days after his appointment as Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin defended, on Thursday, December 26, on TF1, a proposal to extend police custody to 72 hours for cases of aggravated sexual violence and femicides, compared to the current 48 hours. This measure, described as a “strong proposal” by the new Minister, aims to strengthen the fight against these crimes, which are particularly difficult to solve in France.

“Why 72 hours? It allows us to protect the woman who has been threatened, assaulted, or abused, to carry out the necessary technical and scientific investigations, and to interrogate the suspect more thoroughly,” explained Gérald Darmanin. He also specified that the Public Prosecutor could lift the custody measure at any time.

Firmness and reforms in the prison system

During his first official visit to Amiens on Wednesday, December 25, the Minister of Justice also called for “more firmness, speed, and resources.” He expressed a desire for short sentences to be systematically enforced and mentioned the need to conduct “clean-up operations” in prisons. Among the priorities outlined, Gérald Darmanin announced plans to tackle the presence of mobile phones in prisons by strengthening jamming systems.

A “lesson” from the Mazan rape trial

Gérald Darmanin also referred to the Mazan rape trial, which ended with the conviction of Dominique Pélicot and 50 co-defendants. “Society must draw an important lesson from this,” he stated, emphasizing the need to enhance investigative and protective measures in cases of sexual violence and femicides.

This stance comes as Gérald Darmanin’s appointment as Minister of Justice has sparked mixed reactions. Some magistrates’ unions have expressed their “concerns,” recalling past tensions between the Minister and the judiciary when he held the position of Interior Minister.