The city of Nice has taken a new step in modernizing its alert system with the launch of VigiNice, an application to be installed directly on smartphones. This experiment marks the beginning of a gradual deployment phase, aiming eventually to replace the devices used since 2015.
An important evolution has just been initiated in the public safety policy implemented in Nice. Since 2015, the city has relied on technologies designed to facilitate alerts in emergency situations. The devices installed in shops, municipal establishments, and sensitive locations were the cornerstone of this strategy. Connected to the Urban Supervision Center (CSU), these devices instantly transmit a signal allowing agents to listen to the environment, direct cameras to the concerned area, and engage in a rapid intervention in case of confirmed danger.
A dense network has developed over the years. In 2024, 1,700 devices are operational in the city. These devices have enabled 724 interventions by the Municipal Police since the beginning of the year. The figure put forward by municipal services for the previous year reports 492 interventions. These data confirm regular use of the system by professionals and equipped structures.
The municipality now aims to expand this system to include other tools. A technology developed by the French company WaryMe was selected after several months of research. This solution allows for triggering an alert directly from a smartphone. The system has been adapted to local needs and deployed under the name VigiNice.
The test phase conducted in 2024 at polling stations served as the initial evaluation. During the European elections in June, followed by the legislative elections in late June and early July, the feature was used on four occasions. According to feedback provided to the city, this use facilitated the rescue of individuals and the arrest of a person for violence. Polling station managers expressed overall satisfaction with the simplicity of installation and use.
The CNIL has just authorized broader deployment. This green light initiates a new phase, planned to proceed gradually, neighborhood by neighborhood.
A launch in the Notre-Dame sector and dedicated training
The Notre-Dame sector is the first area chosen for deployment. Six municipal structures are participating in this phase: the Cœur de Nice Territory Offices, AnimaNice Notre-Dame, the L’Île des Enfants play center, the Ronchèse school, the L’Artistique Arts and Culture Center, and the Romain-Gary library. The application is installed on the personal phones of participating agents and remains free during this experimental phase.
About fifty people were gathered on Thursday, December 4, for a training session organized by the Information Systems Directorate and the company WaryMe. This training aims to ensure complete mastery. Participants learn how to install the application, conduct tests, understand different usage scenarios, and adopt the right reflexes in case of an alert. Speakers also detail operational procedures, geolocation capabilities, sound recording, the possibility of automatic camera orientation, and direct communication with a CSU operator.
This skill enhancement is an essential step, as VigiNice is intended to gradually replace the current alert devices starting in 2026. An evaluation will be conducted in three months to adjust the deployment schedule across the entire territory.
The system presents several advantages highlighted during this launch phase: faster alert transmission, enhanced territorial coverage, immediate verification, precise geolocation, and more flexible use thanks to a mobile platform. The absence of physical devices also eliminates maintenance constraints related to equipment.
Another development axis concerns downward communication. The CSU will be able to send alerts to users to signal a danger and indicate appropriate actions. Cross-cutting uses within user groups are also envisioned.
An extension of existing tools and a goal set for 2026
This launch is part of a comprehensive strategy already supported by several systems. Since 2019, 311 emergency call terminals are accessible in public spaces. All alerts transmitted, whether from devices, terminals, or now smartphones, are processed in real-time by the CSU. Agents systematically conduct a verification process. This procedure played an important role during the Notre-Dame de l’Assomption Basilica attack in 2020, as the municipality recalls.
The city’s services are also continuing preparatory work related to the future delivery of the Hôtel des Polices in 2026. This new facility will be managed from an Urban Hypervision and Command Center. Selecting technologies compatible with this future environment is a stated objective.
Christian Estrosi emphasizes this long-term work in several statements. Among them: “in November 2015, to combat armed robberies, we wanted to test and experiment with alert buttons in city establishments open to the public.” He adds: “Ten years later, this system first implemented in Nice has proven its worth.”
The city stresses the lengthy authorization process: “After several months of research, our services had identified a solution that we presented to Gérald Darmanin […] I say two years! That is the time required by CNIL to approve the impact study.”
The launch of VigiNice therefore marks a new stage in the evolution of alert tools in the city of Nice. The coming months will serve as an observation period before a possible large-scale deployment.
