French Code of Criminal Procedure
In forceThe judicial police officer may forbid any person to leave the scene of the offence until the end of his operations.
He may call and hear all persons likely to provide information on the facts or on the objects and documents seized.
The persons summoned by him are obliged to appear. The judicial police officer may force the appearance of the persons referred to in the first paragraph. He may also compel the appearance by force of law, with the prior authorisation of the public prosecutor, of persons who have not responded to a summons to appear or who may be feared not to respond to such a summons. The public prosecutor may also authorise the appearance by the police without prior summons in cases where there is a risk of tampering with material evidence or clues, pressure on witnesses or victims or on their family or close friends, or concerted action between co-perpetrators or accomplices in the offence.
The judicial police officer will draw up a record of their statements. The persons interviewed read it themselves, may have their observations recorded and sign it. If they declare that they cannot read, the report is read to them by the judicial police officer before they sign it. If they refuse to sign the report, this is noted on the report.
The judicial police officers designated in Article 20 may also hear, under the supervision of a judicial police officer, any persons likely to provide information about the facts in question. To this end, they will draw up reports in the form prescribed by the present code, which they will pass on to the judicial police officer they are assisting.
