It is well known that security is one of the main focuses of Christian Estrosi and one of his favorite themes in his polemic with Manuel Valls, the current Minister of the Interior, a position which, according to well-informed sources, the Mayor of Nice would have liked to attain during the ministerial reshuffles.
Perhaps explaining this, the Mayor of Nice has focused his attention on the organization of the Municipal Police, declaring, “No one disputes this status of the Premier Municipal Police of France,” during the new year greetings to municipal police officers, public surveillance agents, and administrative or technical staff of the Nice Municipal Police.
“Though security is a sovereign function of the State, as Mayor, I wanted to support the State’s commitment in this fight, particularly in terms of prevention, because I consider it a major issue and believe local authorities should support policies in this area,” Christian Estrosi further added.
According to the Mayor of Nice, the results from 2008 to 2012 have been delivered, with the number of crimes and offenses decreasing in Nice while they rise at the national level. In short, a more brilliant 2012 report could not be imagined.
Naturally, the controversy was inevitable when addressing the current Government because, unsurprisingly, for Christian Estrosi, since May 6, 2012, we have moved from light to shadow in this specific case. “After 8 years of decline (note: during right-wing governments), we must come to terms with the fact that the Government has changed and that the messages sent from Paris are disastrous regarding delinquency.”
And he gives a few examples:
“By announcing the removal of preventive detention, mandatory sentencing, the law on violent gangs, the law on school absenteeism, and the reestablishment of the minority excuse, Madame TAUBIRA sends a message of laxity and weakness to thugs, a message understood loud and clear by offenders as a free pass to continue their acts.
The same goes for illegal immigrants. Today, the Government invites them (sic!) onto national territory and promises them housing and work.”
While respecting everyone’s convictions, including the right to critique, can we say that even in propaganda, such inappropriate remarks are rarely heard?
By advocating the new policy’s failure after the success of the previous one (*regarding the statistical figures, read in the box the statement of the ONDRP president that makes Christian Estrosi’s claim somewhat uncertain), the Mayor of Nice asks a rather pertinent question: “Should we strictly keep the same organization or make it evolve?” Leading to the following conclusion: “With the change in the national police policy, I propose a change in the municipal police policy.”
What does this new roadmap entail?
Starting February 15, the implementation of community policing will take responsibility for a portion of the territory in such a way as to have direct and in-depth contact with the population, a continuous understanding of situations, and the possibility of preventive and deterrent action.
The idea is quite interesting and has already proven successful in many cities worldwide. Why shouldn’t it also work in Nice? After all, it was already applied by the Jospin Government in 1998 with community policing. The arrival of the right in 2002 marked the end of this experiment…
As they say, history is an eternal repetition!
Finally, in 2009, a new coordination agreement was signed between the State services and the City to ensure the conditions of interventions. Moreover, a new, more dynamic partnership will be signed on February 11.
This agreement seems to be the most important act in the interest of the citizen: Because all these controversies and rivalries, these preventive and sterile oppositions, these searches for fault and responsibility from others result only in satisfying political positions, egos sometimes ill at ease.
Yes, we can certainly repeat over and over “It’s Valls’ fault,” “It’s Taubira’s fault,” just as Molière made Dr. Diafurus shout “Bloodletting” again and again in The Imaginary Invalid.
But the solution to problems, certainly complex, whether we like it or not, depends on the collaboration of all stakeholders.
This is called the public service in the general interest.
