Student Protests Sweep France Amid Claims of Excessive Police Force

Thousands of students, teachers and trade union members have demonstrated in Paris and several other French cities, demanding better conditions in education.

The protests have brought students and education workers onto the streets, with calls for improvements to the conditions in which they study and teach.

Allegations that police have used excessive force have accompanied the demonstrations. The information provided did not detail the incidents behind those accusations.

The government said 215 students and 715 police personnel had been injured since the protests began. It also reported that more than 5,000 people had been detained.

Those figures cover the period since the start of the protests, rather than a single demonstration. No breakdown was provided by city or date.