The French government has halted its plans to ban the use of chokeholds by police officers on detainees following protests by French police unions. Frédéric Veaux, the country’s national police director, sent a letter to police on Monday which stated that, though the chokehold would no longer be taught during police training, the use of the method has not been prohibited among law enforcement.

Amid nationwide protests, the French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner had announced last week that police use of the chokehold would be banned in the country. The protests, sparked by the murder of George Floyd in the US, also brought attention to the deaths of Adama Traoré and Cédric Chouviat, both of whom died while interacting with French police.

Veaux’s letter explained that a group was created to find alternative methods for police to restrain people and until a solution is found chokeholds will not be banned. The letter also stated that the investigative group would provide an update on their research by September of this year.