Four Carcassonne police officers suspended over leaked bodycam recording

Accidental recording and leaked footage

Regional daily newspaper Midi Libre published excerpts on 8 September 2026 from a six-hour police body camera recording captured on 5 November 2025 during a patrol in Carcassonne. The recording, which the lead officer believed was deactivated, captured four municipal officers making repeated racial slurs, misogynistic statements, and homophobic insults. The recorded dialogue included slurs targeting North African and Black individuals, disparaging comments regarding the Algerian War, and conspiracy theories regarding First Lady Brigitte Macron. During the patrol, an officer also voiced approval for an authoritarian takeover of the government, stating that a military coup d'état would benefit France.

Legal proceedings and administrative oversight

Following the media disclosure, Carcassonne prosecutor Géraldine Labialle announced on 9 September 2026 that the judiciary had moved to suspend all four involved officers and revoke their professional accreditations. The prosecutor opened an investigation into public defamation targeting groups on the basis of origin, ethnicity, sex, and sexual orientation. Judicial proceedings originated from a legal complaint filed on 31 December 2025 at the Trèbes gendarmerie by the patrol chief, who alleged a privacy violation after the video circulated inside the police station. The municipal administration had launched an internal administrative inquiry on 23 December 2025, though its findings remained pending. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced on 9 September 2026 that the General Inspectorate of Administration (IGA) would conduct a comprehensive audit of the Carcassonne municipal police force.

Political fallout and party exclusion

The main officer heard in the recording is a municipal brigadier-chief, former military soldier, and registered member of the National Rally (RN). The officer previously provided volunteer security for RN leader Jordan Bardella during a political visit to Carcassonne in February 2026. Following the public broadcast of the recording, the National Rally leadership expelled the officer from the party and its security service. Carcassonne Mayor Christophe Barthès condemned the remarks during a public briefing on 9 September 2026.

These remarks are scandalous. Racist, misogynistic, homophobic, and conspiracy-driven remarks that are sickening and inexcusable.

National Rally Vice President and Perpignan Mayor Louis Aliot addressed the incident on 10 September 2026, characterizing the situation as an isolated case rather than a systemic issue within the party.

Since Marine Le Pen took the helm of the party, people who have no place with us are systematically thrown out.

Reactions from local residents

In Carcassonne's Ozanam housing estate, residents stated that the exposed conduct reflected long-standing grievances regarding municipal policing. Residents including 44-year-old Mohammed and local resident Morad described discriminatory behavior and confrontational methods by municipal officers, contrasting these encounters with cooperative interactions with the national police force. In the city center, resident Anthony noted frequent profiling based on physical appearance. Minister Delegate for Equality Aurore Bergé characterized the statements as unlawful offenses on French radio, while municipal records indicate the main officer had returned to duty in March 2026 after taking sick leave following the initial internal circulation of the video.