Saturday, March 02, 2013

"Vous" or "tu?" French cops ordered to be polite to suspects...

French police have received official orders that they are no longer allowed to address suspects using the informal and familiar ‘tu’ (‘you’ singular), but should at all times use the more formal, respectful ‘vous’ (‘you’ plural).

The law enforcement officers have been explicitly banned from speaking to any members of the public using ‘tu,’ which is normally used to address friends, family or younger children, according to a new 33-article code of conduct that comes into effect next month.

Using ‘tu’ to a stranger can be considered derogatory or impolite. However, French police are prone to employing the term when speaking to suspects.

“For many police officers, using the familiar ‘tu’ is in their DNA... it carries an implied threat,” an anonymous youth told local news radio channel France Info. “It’s the kind of thing that can quite naturally ignite a violent reaction and it’s always the youths who come off badly.”

“Quite rightly a lot of young people refuse to be spoken to this way,”
he added. Full story...

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  3. The world's worst tourists? Americans, Chinese and the French...
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  6. Grumpy Spaniards told to smile to lure tourists...
  7. Swiss soldier jailed for saying ''bonjour'' to superior!!! WTF!

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