A month and a half after the Nice attack, the security for this school year has been the subject of early and very precise preparation by the state services, in close partnership with the concerned local authorities (municipalities, Department, and Region).
A major moment for family life and the educational community, the 2016 school year in the Alpes-Maritimes involves measures and resources that fully take into account the level of threat our country is exposed to.
In this context, Adolphe Colrat, Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, presented a summary of the measures taken for the safety of schools and educational institutions.
Three principles should guide the actions of the state and its partners in protecting educational institutions: unity, cohesion, and partnership.
What are the main measures taken, concretely?
Inside the establishments, entrances will be controlled and only school personnel will be allowed access. Teachers, parents, and students will be informed of all measures and procedures in case of an alert or crisis.
A unit composed of an academic security referent, a security advisor to the Rector, and a departmental security referent for the Alpes-Maritimes will ensure coordination.
In each institution, an exchange will take place on the first day with students, focusing on civic values, which are the guarantees of our republican unity.
In public spaces, a partnership work between the three major security forces: National Police, National Gendarmerie, and the military of the Sentinelle operation, allows the setup of dynamic and coordinated patrols among the three forces to secure the entire public space and thus ensure active surveillance and vigilance over a wide area (effectiveness in depth and detection of potential threats).
This option in favor of mobile patrols and rapid reaction forces is preferred over static guards, which can intervene occasionally.
The Sentinelle operation in the Alpes-Maritimes is contributing for the first time to securing the school year in the cities of Nice, Cannes, and Antibes.
The mobilization of reservists by each force (police, gendarmerie, and army) and strengthened during the year, accompanied by the training of these volunteers, is an additional asset.
While the communes in the department have not commented on this organization, the same cannot be said for the main city of the department where Christian Estrosi has not hesitated to react strongly about the presence of mobile patrols, an option he finds insufficient and does not meet his wishes.
“This means that the Government will not complement the municipal arrangement enabling each school group to be secured by a police officer or a security agent posted in front of the institution,” he commented.
The criticism is as harsh as usual and does not surprise: “We take note of it, while security is the major issue of this new school year, the State does not assume its responsibilities.”
The conclusion is in the same vein: “Even if it is difficult and represents a considerable additional cost for the community, since the city cannot rely on the presence of national police or fixed military, we will deploy all necessary means to ensure a security force presence in front of educational institutions.”
