At the beginning of September, an employee of a Speedy garage in Rueil-Malmaison (Hauts-de-Seine) filmed an unmarked police vehicle. His video shows in particular the interior, the license plate, and the invoice, before broadcasting the video on social networks, reveals the Actu17 site.
A suspect was taken into custody at the end of September, and an investigation is underway. The Nanterre public prosecutor’s office has not yet made a decision on the continuation of the procedure.
The one-minute video was widely shared on public Snapchat profiles followed by thousands of people. The vehicle, used by the Departmental Judicial Police Service of Hauts-de-Seine (SDPJ 92), was used in particular for discreet surveillance missions to observe suspects as part of criminal investigations.
A detailed and commented video
While filming, the employee commented on the video showing various details, including a hidden camera in the brake light and other specific equipment. “Be careful if you see that, it’s the submarine,” says the mechanic, filming the vehicle’s license plate.
This act was criticized by investigators for its lack of professionalism. “This indicates a total lack of professionalism and above all seriousness on the part of this employee,” annoys an investigator from Hauts-de-Seine, quoted by the site.
This is all the more serious as some mechanics have access to the Vehicle Registration System (SIV), allowing them to consult personal information. The Paris police headquarters often outsources vehicle maintenance to private providers to reduce costs, although some repairs are still carried out in-house.