Police Ethics Units, or the Denial of Justice for the Poor

The main issue appears to be that complaints against the police are handled by departments (rarely mentioned in the media) that are not independent from the police hierarchy, particularly when it comes to the working class.

Our investigation will expose the lack of transparency within the police institution and shed light on the obstacles victims face when seeking legal recourse. By documenting cases, amplifying underrepresented voices, and providing in-depth analysis, we aim to combat impunity, empower victims, and promote a more transparent and accountable media landscape.

Goals (expected) of the project

The project aims to address a social and political issue affecting marginalised groups. By focusing on these specific issues, it promotes inclusion and combats discrimination against local communities.
Working-class populations often lack access to legal understanding. The project will carefully represent these groups by amplifying the voices of victims of police brutality. The media content will be accessible to all, with an intersectional perspective. A digital strategy and partnerships with other media outlets will be developed to effectively reach this underrepresented, often misrepresented or criminalised target group.

Specific objectives of our investigation include:

• Combating impunity and promoting respect for fundamental rights and accountability of perpetrators in cases of police brutality by documenting the mechanisms preventing victims from accessing justice.
• Highlighting the systemic nature of police violence and the impunity it entails, focusing on its racial dimension, to empower marginalised social groups and counter biased narratives from many mainstream media owned by major industrial and financial groups.
• Addressing police and judicial issues beyond the usual "news briefs" by conducting in-depth investigations and critically analysing practices.
• Sparking interest among other media and promoting a more critical approach to human rights violations committed by states.
• Supporting victims in their legal proceedings through innovative counter-investigations that could set legal precedents (movement lawyering).