[6] The members of a Child Protection Unit police squad try to safeguard their mental health and home lives in the face of their stressful and disruptive work: tracking paedophiles, arresting parents suspected of mistreating their children, following teenage pickpockets, runaways or those sexually exploited and helping in the protection of homeless children and victims of rape.

During brief periods of relaxation, the squad gossip, quarrel, drink, dance; relationships are put under strain, break and are remade or newly made.

Their boss is an ambitious and politically astute policeman, not wholly sympathetic to the demands of their consciences, and ready to tighten the leash if the suspect whom they are questioning has powerful friends.

At the heart of the story is a hard-edged, bitter yet tender policeman (Joeystarr), and a photographer (played by director Maïwenn), whose assignment is to follow the squad in their work.

[7] Maïwenn only wanted to cast actors who would be credible in the roles of policemen: "In my opinion all of them had to have a common feature – they had to look like working class people and speak in vernacular Parisian French."

The website's critical consensus states: "Polisse is a gripping and powerful procedural drama filled with fine acting and unflinching eye for truth and brutality".

"[12] In Screen Daily's review from the festival, Jonathan Romney called Maïwenn "undeniably a very strong director of actors, especially when it comes to the delicate scenes involving the various children.

(auch aufgrund jener Polizisten, die zwar der Strafverfolgung dienen, vor allem aber Sozialarbeit leisten – und dabei durchweg überfordert sind.)