Police homicides, minorities and riots in France

• In Event: POL Panel 10. Police use of force: impacts, training and opportunities for change.

Abstract

Why do some police homicides lead to riots while others do not? The present paper analyzes the intensity of riots in France through the monthly number of arsons on private property at the departmental level from January 1996 to August 2022 (N = 32, 080). The results suggest that police homicides in general have no discernible correlation with rioting. However, certain characteristics of homicides are critical for triggering riots when i) the victim has a non-European immigrant background, ii) the police officers are from the BAC (tough anti-crime unit), and iii) there are multiple victims.

Authors

• Sebastian Roche, Sciences-Po Grenoble / Université de Grenoble-Alpes

• Simon Varaine, Pacte, Sciences Po Grenoble