Authorities are investigating allegations that the Paris police violated Covid-19 rules and curfew by organizing a farewell party for a colleague, at which Macarena danced inside a police station.
Videos of the event they show up to show police officers and other station staff celebrating and dancing until 3 am. None wore a mask, there was little social distance and the party violated the 6 pm to 6 am curfew across the country.
Police officers are seen singing and dancing Macarena inside the Aubervilliers police station in the suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis. The regional police authority launched an investigation.
A statement tweeted by the City of Police read: “A farewell party was organized at the Aubervilliers commissariat when there was a curfew in force and without any respect for social distance measures. An administrative inquiry is underway and administrative sanctions will be applied to participants. “
The video was released on the Loopsider website, which also published a film of three French police officers beating and allegedly racially abusing a music producer in their Paris studio in November.
Loopsider said the party took place on January 22; faces are blurred, but the film shows men and women dancing, eating and drinking in an off-duty room designed to hold a maximum of six people during Covid’s health crisis, said Loopsider.
The 12-hour overnight curfew rules, which went into effect almost two weeks ago, prohibit any party or social gathering after 6 pm. It is not illegal to work, but anyone outside the home after 6 pm must carry a sworn statement giving one of a limited number of reasons allowed to be out, and a letter from your employee if the reason is related to your work.
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The fine is € 135 (£ 120) for the first offense, € 200 for the second offense, peaking at a maximum of € 3,750 and a six-month prison term for three crimes within 30 days.
Bars, cafes and restaurants have been closed along with cinemas, theaters, clubs and nightclubs since the end of October.
French police have actively participated in the dissolution of an increasing number of illegal and rave parties during the curfew and arresting the organizers. Participants were fined 135 euros each, while organizers were fined several thousand euros, some of them facing trial.
Local police chiefs said they demanded an explanation from those who attended the party at Aubervilliers.
Aubervilliers Mayor Karine Franclet told France Bleu radio that she was furious.
“From the point of view of health, it is irresponsible. We are fighting to have a vaccination post, to give school meals to children, respecting all health rules so that they continue despite the virus, while things like this happen. How is this possible?”