The use of weapons by law enforcement officers

Since the entry into force of Act no. 2017-258 of February 28, 2017 on public security, the rules governing the use of weapons by law enforcement officers have been unified. Five cases of authorization to use weapons are listed in the new article L. 435-1 CSI. On the face of it, these authorization cases appear to allow the use of weapons in situations distinct from those of self-defense. However, an examination of the common conditions to which the legislator has subordinated each of these cases of the use of weapons reveals that this common framework for the use of arms by law enforcement officers is, in fine, closer to justifying self-defense than it appears.