The recent unrest has prompted a firm response from the State.
Too many incidents (in Dijon, in Bayonne, and more recently in Nice) have disturbed public opinion and highlighted certain flaws in the functioning of State services.
The alarm had been sounded: “We are witnessing a crisis of authority. We must stop the brutalization of a certain part of society. We must reaffirm the authority of the State and let nothing slide,” declared Gérald Darmanin during his brief appearance at the Metropolitan Council last Thursday.
During a visit to Nice this Saturday, faced with rising insecurity concerns after several violent episodes, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced the creation, by the end of 2020, of 150 additional positions “to strengthen local criminal justice action, which, as we have just seen, is necessary for the repression of everyday offenses and the prevention of recidivism,” announced the prime minister,
Other announcements were made on this occasion.
The standardization of narcotics offenses, currently being tested, will now be generalized by the start of the school year.
In practical terms, law enforcement will now be able to “penalize the perpetrator of an offense in the simplest way,” and “under the authority of justice, apply the sanction without delay,” detailed the prime minister. This measure will be particularly “effective in the fight against drug sale points that plague neighborhoods” in Nice or elsewhere in the country, he emphasized.
This procedure, a fixed fine of 200 euros, applies to all drugs but primarily targets cannabis users. It is already being implemented in several cities in France like Reims or Rennes. The fine, if paid within fifteen days, is reduced to 150 euros. Beyond 45 days, the offender will have to pay a surcharge set at 450 euros.
Finally, Jean Castex announced that the President of the Republic wished to create 10,000 police positions over five years at the national level, “for a more visible police presence”.
The head of the government also announced several measures at the local level.
Hence, the police forces in Nice will be “brought up to strength with the deployment of 60 police officers here in the coming weeks”. They will receive a loyalty allowance to compensate for the higher cost of living here compared to most other regions.
Finally, in response to a request from the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, the prime minister promised that the expansion of the powers of municipal police officers would soon be tested in the city. “Many mayors share this concern,” agreed Jean Castex, before adding, “know that this intention is in line with that of the government”. Therefore, “in Nice, we will quickly initiate the experimentation on the extension of municipal police powers within the framework set by the Ministers of the Interior and Justice present here,” he declared. The “lessons” from this experiment “will inform upcoming legislative measures,” the prime minister added.
In Nice, Estrosi calls on the State in the face of violence
The head of the government also took the opportunity in his speech to pay tribute to the mayors: “mayors are the pillars of the Republic. Attacking mayors is attacking the Republic,” emphasized Jean Castex.
The prime minister also wished to extend the government’s support to law enforcement, present on the forecourt of the Alpes Maritimes prefecture.
“We do not accept here, as throughout the entire territory of the Republic, that tiny minorities (…) intend to impose their law to the detriment of the vast majority of our honest citizens (…) The only law that matters is that of the republican law and the rule of law,” the head of the government reiterated.
“Don’t let anything slip away,” he added at the end of his speech.
