Four months after the riots which engulfed the country for almost a week, the government is toughening its tone. Faced with an audience of 500 city councilors whose municipalities were particularly affected by the urban violence which followed the death of Nahel, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne presented this Thursday, October 26, an arsenal of measures.
These responses, essentially sovereign, should make it possible to “better coordinate security in neighborhoods”, in order to “guarantee the security of our fellow citizens” and “better support families”, while strengthening “national cohesion”. she explained.
Creation of “republican action forces”
The executive is therefore planning the testing in several cities in France of a new system called “republican action forces”. A measure already mentioned by Emmanuel Macron during his re-election campaign in 2022. These are brigades made up of police officers, magistrates, but also mediation specialists supposed to “bring calm and appeasement”.
The expansion of the prerogatives of municipal police
While elected officials of all political colors have been demanding for several months new means to ensure the safety of their constituents, Elisabeth Borne opens the possibility for mayors who wish to “give municipal police officers the possibility of carrying out certain acts of judicial police”. However, she did not provide further details.
An envelope of 100 million euros for reconstruction
While the material damage from urban violence amounts to nearly 730 million euros, the Prime Minister announced the mobilization of an envelope of 100 million euros intended to help with “repair and reconstruction”. It will come “in addition to insurance compensation”.
Plan to combat drug trafficking and consumption
Two months after the death in a shooting linked to drug trafficking of a 10-year-old child in the Pissevin district of Nîmes, the head of government intends to soon present a new “national plan to combat drugs”, without specifying a timetable. . Furthermore, while welcoming the “important step forward” represented by fixed fines, Elisabeth Borne wishes to “go further” in order to “facilitate their immediate payment and improve their recovery”.
Supervision of young delinquents
In order to “expand” the “range of sanctions”, the executive plans to place young delinquents “compulsorily, in educational units of the judicial protection of young people”. “Supervision of young delinquents by the military” could be considered in certain cases, in order to “transmit to them values of discipline and surpassing oneself”, added the Prime Minister. Furthermore, the government is preparing to increase the fine by five for non-compliance with the curfew, bringing it to 750 euros, compared to 150 euros until now.
Parental responsibility courses
While Emmanuel Macron had promised to sanction the families of the rioters “from the first stupidity”, Elisabeth Borne reaffirmed that parents must be held “financially responsible” for their children if they were to commit damage to public or private property . The government also proposes to set up “parental responsibility courses or community service sentences” for “parents who evade their educational duty”.
Digital ban
Believing that social networks played a “key role” in the organization of the riots, Elisabeth Borne wants a “digital ban” in the event of the dissemination of content inciting violence. This sanction will have the effect of suspending an account for six months. The head of government was accompanied by several members of her government, including the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin and the Minister of Justice Éric Dupond-Moretti. This Friday, October 27, a second round of measures will be announced during a trip to Chanteloup-les-Vignes, in Yvelines. Among which, the establishment of “new prerogatives” for municipal police.