Lyhanna case: investigator exposes overwhelmed child protection services
A police officer specialising in violence against minors has given an anonymous testimony revealing the impossibility of properly handling the hundreds of cases accumulating in her services.
Lyhanna case: investigator exposes overwhelmed child protection services
A police officer working within a unit dedicated to offences against children gave an anonymous testimony to franceinfo on Tuesday 9 June, painting a damning picture of the situation in her services.
In her unit, each officer currently manages approximately 150 cases, representing a doubling or tripling compared to the previous period. The officer compared their daily work to that of an overwhelmed emergency doctor, forced to make difficult choices between multiple victims. Cases prioritised are those where the child remains in contact with their abuser, deemed the most dangerous.
Processing delays generate additional tension with families. Relatives of victims regularly call to find out how their case is progressing, which adds to the already crushing pressure on the teams. The investigator emphasised that these delays do not result from a lack of goodwill: "That is not true at all, it is simply that we do not have the capacity to handle cases the way we would like to."
Beyond the staffing problem, the officer denounced unsuitable computer tools. The software used for criminal proceedings is reportedly outdated and buggy, forcing investigators to devote a significant proportion of their time to technical administrative tasks rather than actual investigation. She specified that when custody reforms were implemented, the software was only updated a year later, forcing police officers to produce additional documents to remain compliant.
According to data from the Minister of Justice, approximately three million complaints are currently pending in police stations and gendarmerie offices, representing an increase of one million over three years. The officer refused to blame particular individuals, believing that the entire judicial and police apparatus is overwhelmed.
This testimony coincides with Gérald Darmanin's call for a "general mobilisation" of magistrates following the failings revealed in the disappearance of Lyhanna, a young woman found dead in the Gers after suffering sexual assault.
Source: France Info