Report on the 9th of the IPCAN Network

On December 4 and 5, 2025, the annual seminar of IPCAN (Independent Police Complaints’ Authority Network), the international cooperation network of national independent bodies responsible for the external oversight of security forces, was held in Paris. he Defender of Rights, Claire Hédon, along with her Deputy in charge of security ethics, Céline Roux, and their team welcomed their counterparts on this occasion.

This year’s edition gathered a total of 22 participants. The discussions over the two days focused on security forces and their interactions with minors. Using the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as a reference point, members exchanged views on two major themes.

AN AFTERNOON OF DISCUSSIONS ON SECURITY FORCES, CHILD OFFENDERS AND CHILD VICTIMS

After an introductory presentation by each member on the progress of institutional work carried out in their respective countries, IPCAN representatives focused their discussions around two key questions:
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How do the security forces of member states take into account the vulnerability of children when they are victims or perpetrators of offences?
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The discussions examined various cases involving minors in police proceedings, including the conditions of arrest, interrogation procedures, the recording of young suspects, as well as the role of parents during the process.
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The afternoon continued with a presentation by David A. Sonenshein, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Citizens Commission on Law Enforcement, who discussed police practices in the United States and the existing oversight mechanisms.

A SECOND MORNING OF DISCUSSIONS ON SECURITY FORCES AND THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH MINORS ON THE STREETS

The morning began with a second roundtable discussion, this time devoted to situations reported by members regarding interactions between security forces and minors in public spaces, whether in the form of identity checks, fines, or public demonstrations.
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To conclude the seminar, Magda Boutros presented her research conducted with Aline Daillère and fuIPCAN Declaration FINAL (EN)nded by the Defender of Rights, entitled “Fines, evictions, checks: the management of ‘undesirables’ by the police in the Paris region”.

RECOMMENDATIONS ON CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

The seminar resulted in the adoption of the Paris Declaration, which included several key recommendations. IPCAN members emphasized the need to incorporate special consideration for minors and the best interests of the child into their respective codes of ethics.
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Participants also highlighted the importance of strengthening the training of police officers assigned in units specializing in cases involving children. They recommended that these officers receive specific training in interview techniques adapted to minors, so that investigations fully take into account of the age, level of discernment, and vulnerability of the young people concerned.
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Finally, they agreed on the necessity of viewing children forced to commit crimes primarily as victims of trafficking networks rather than as offenders, particularly in cases of burglary, theft, and drug trafficking.

The following IPCAN member states attended the seminar:
Office of the Ombudsman (Croatia), Office of the Public Defender of Rights and Defender of Children’s Rights (Czech Republic), Chancellor of Justice (ESTONIA), Independent Police Complaints Authority (Denmark), Police Commissioner for the Federal Police Authorities (Germany), Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Ireland), Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Poland, Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia, Police Mediation (Geneva), Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Scotland, UK), CLEAR (Pennsylvania, USA), Independent Office for Police Conduct (Great Britain, UK), Défenseur des droits (France)