Inspection générale de la Gendarmerie nationale
IGGN
Summary
The IGGN is the internal general inspectorate for the French Gendarmerie nationale, governed by Arts. D3122-12 to D3122-14 of the Code de la défense. Its chief is placed under the authority of the Director General of the Gendarmerie and, through them, the Minister of the Interior. Décret n° 2023-679 of 28 July 2023 removed the requirement that the chief be a general officer of gendarmerie, opening the post to external personalities for the first time. The IGGN can be tasked by the judicial authority to investigate offences committed by gendarmerie personnel on or off duty, enabling co-investigation of use-of-force incidents. Administrative investigations are conducted on instruction from the minister or the director general. Investigators have full access to gendarmerie files and premises. Discipline is referred to the competent authority; no direct sanctioning power exists. No civilian-composition requirement is prescribed.
Independence Scorecard
| Appointment | Executive appointment |
|---|---|
| Term length | Not specified |
| Removal standard | At will (weak protection) |
| Budget independence | Executive discretion |
| Subpoena power | No |
| Compel testimony | No |
| Records access | Full access |
| Public reports required | Yes |
| Pre-publication review | Executive review |
Statute
- Name
- Code de la défense, Art. D3122-12 à D3122-14, tel que modifié par le Décret n° 2023-679 du 28 juillet 2023
- Citation
- Code de la défense, Art. D3122-12–D3122-14 (as amended by Décret n° 2023-679 du 28 juillet 2023, JORF du 30 juillet 2023)
- Full text
- Full text of law →
Jurisdiction scope
All personnel and units of the Gendarmerie nationale; conducts administrative and judicial investigations into gendarmes' conduct, monitors compliance with professional rules, and performs performance and compliance inspections on behalf of the Minister of the Interior and the Director General of the Gendarmerie