For several weeks, residents, the National and Municipal Police, shopkeepers, associative and institutional partners have pointed out an increase in incivilities in certain neighborhoods of the city center.
To address this, the municipality proposed to the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, Georges-François Leclerc, the implementation of a dog handler program (let’s hope they won’t be Neapolitan Mastiffs!*) with private security agents to complement the presence of the municipal police and interventions by the national police.
This experimental measure aims to ensure a preventive presence to reduce incivilities (gatherings, noise, public domain occupations…) in areas considered sensitive, such as Acropolis, Garibaldi Square, Cigalusa Square, Arson Square, and Rossetti Street, the latter being in the spotlight of current chronicles.
One might think that this administrative decision confirms that the authorities (city and prefecture) are not standing idly by in the face of a real problem… but no, on the contrary, everyone is exploiting it for their own purposes.
The Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, could not avoid making it a call product for good management: “I wish to complement the actions of law enforcement with this measure through relays and differentiated actions in the service of the well-being of the people of Nice. […] At the request of neighborhood committees, we are experimenting with this new mode of action with the Prefect’s agreement.
Eric Ciotti (deputy of this district), donning the mantle of Mr. Authority he prides himself on, could not miss the opportunity to meddle in this urban matter, to mark his presence ahead of future electoral deadlines and promptly requested an urgent meeting at the prefecture: to say what and do what?
Patrick Allemand (opposition municipal councilor) sees it as “A step towards the privatization of security.” “I am surprised by the approval given by the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes for this experiment. Indeed, it is nothing less than delegating public security missions to private companies. To my knowledge, this is a first in France, all the more incomprehensible as the municipal police have the highest numbers in France and are equipped with 2,173 CCTV cameras.”
Philippe Vardon (regional councilor RN) finds himself on familiar ground: “In reality, it is mainly the media urgency pushing everyone to react today… while the people of Nice have long been waiting to see them ACT! From Garibaldi Square to the West neighborhoods, passing through Rossetti Street and entire sections of the city center, it is urgent to restore order and security throughout the city.”
This goes to show that life in the city is never a smooth river!
