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Safety · France
Updated September 2026

✊ I was attacked or threatened because of who I am — who do I report it to?

Direct answer

Violence, threats or damage motivated by origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability is a hate crime with higher penalties, and it is under-reported — which is why reporting matters. Police / gendarmerie — plainte en ligne THESEE (service-public.fr): say explicitly that you believe the motive was hate, and ask for it to be recorded as such. Défenseur des droits — discriminations (3928) — the equality body — supports victims, monitors how the police handle it and can take a discrimination case in parallel. France Victimes — 116 006 (116 006) offers free support, also if you decide not to report.

Call firstPolice / gendarmerie — plainte en ligne THESEE
Report toDéfenseur des droits — discriminations
If that failsFrance Victimes — 116 006

🗣️ What to say

"On [date] at [place] I was [attacked / threatened / insulted] by [description]. They said [words] which show it was because of my [origin / religion / orientation / …]. Witnesses: [names]. I want this recorded as a hate crime."

🪜 Step by step

  1. Safety and medical careGet out of the situation; see a doctor and ask for injuries to be documented.
  2. EvidencePhotos, the exact words used, witnesses' contacts, camera locations nearby.
  3. Report to Police / gendarmerie — plainte en ligne THESEEUse the words "hate crime" or "bias motive". Ask for a copy of the report and the case number.
  4. Tell Défenseur des droits — discriminationsEquality bodies track these cases, support victims, and can intervene if the police do not take it seriously.
  5. Support: France Victimes — 116 006Counselling, help with the process, compensation claims — free.

📇 All contacts

Police / gendarmerie — plainte en ligne THESEEOnline complaint for internet fraud, immediate receiptAlways — the basis for bank, insurer and platform🔗 www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/R46526
Défenseur des droits — discriminationsFree referral, investigation, mediationDiscrimination in hiring, at work, in housing📞 3928🔗 www.antidiscriminations.fr
France Victimes — 116 006Victim support, free, accompaniment and compensationAfter any crime📞 116 006🔗 www.france-victimes.fr
Point-justice / aide juridictionnelleFree legal consultations, legal aidWhen you cannot afford a lawyer📞 3039🔗 www.justice.fr

❓ Frequently asked

The police did not record the motive

Ask in writing for the motive to be added; involve Défenseur des droits — discriminations. Recording the bias motive matters for the charge and for statistics.

It was online

Hate speech online is prosecutable; save screenshots with URLs and report to the platform and the police (see the online-harassment page).

I do not want to report but need help

France Victimes — 116 006 and community organisations support you without a report. Some countries have third-party reporting so the incident is counted anonymously.

📎 Sources

Last checked: 2026-09-26

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🧭 Is this still correct?

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