Nice-Premium: what can be done to quickly find a solution to the dilapidation of the Nice prison?
Hervé Caël: If a stone had been laid for all the good words or promises on the subject over the past 20 years, Nice would today have the largest penal institution in France!!
There are only two solutions: A bad one, the rehabilitation of the current building, and an acceptable one, the construction of a new facility outside the heavily urbanized areas of the city.
The lack of will from local political actors leads the ministry to regularly propose maintaining the prison on its current site. This threat may not be very serious given the problems it would raise (management of prisoners during the work, dilapidation of premises, etc.) But beware, amidst the shuffle of projects, creating hope for some and anger for others, the risk should not be overlooked.
It is necessary to gather all political decision-makers, the mayor’s office, the general council, and CANCA, to propose a common solution.
NP: 3 prisoners for one place: how did we get here?
HC: Nice represents the caricature of a national phenomenon. Without reaching the record numbers of the mid-90s, no one can dispute the reality of prison overcrowding in France.
The Nice detention center dates back to 1887… It is difficult to imagine this penal institution and its environment 120 years ago; the urbanization of the neighborhood and the need for detention space bear no relation to the current situation.
Justice ministers, reports, and special envoys come and go, but the Nice detention center remains with its problems. Today, it represents the last major penal black spot in the PACA region. Overcrowding, dilapidation, hygiene and safety problems… nobody disputes the state of affairs.
NP: Where should the next prison be located, and how to make it acceptable to neighbors?
HC: Choosing a new site faces many difficulties. The lack of land in Nice is compounded by the particular conditions related to this type of building: placement on Nice’s tribunal territory, minimum size, road access, security…
It is not about forcing through a project against the residents’ opinion, but rather finding a location as isolated as possible from homes.
The projects in the Var plain or Mont Chauve were perhaps abandoned a little too quickly and deserve reflection and consultation.
NP: What would be your project for the current prison?
HC: The demolition of the prison would represent a unique opportunity for rehabilitation of this neighborhood. The needs are multiple, and the population must be involved in decision-making. All the city’s problems are found in this sector. Access to housing is undoubtedly one of the major challenges of the coming years. But the quality of life of current and future residents must not be sacrificed on the altar of real estate promotion. We cannot overlook questions of equipment, nearby shops, green spaces, playgrounds for children, culture, etc.
