The Prime Minister notably announced the establishment of a republican action force, by the end of the year, in Besançon, Valence and Maubeuge.
“We are on your side.” The Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, presented to local elected officials, Thursday, October 26, the government’s sovereign measures in response to the riots that broke out after the death of Nahel, a young man killed at the end of June during a police check in Nanterre ( Hauts-de-Seine). The head of government, on this occasion, assured that “more than 2,000 people” had already been convicted for these acts.
Here is what we should remember from these announcements, before the presentation, on Friday, of other responses to the more general problems of priority neighborhoods, during of the ministerial committee of towns in Chanteloup-les-Vignes (Yvelines).
Additional help for affected communities
In addition to the emergency law passed this summer, facilitating the reconstruction of degraded buildings, Elisabeth Borne affirms that an envelope of 100 million euros “could be mobilized” For “help with repair and reconstruction”, in addition to insurance compensation. According to Elisabeth Borne, some “60% of public buildings partially or completely destroyed have already been restored.”
Expanded powers for municipal police
Elisabeth Borne believes that the municipal police have been “determining in course of the crisis”. “Mayors who wish it” will be able to allow municipal police “to carry out certain judicial police acts”.
This possibility was imagined in the “global security” bill but censored by the Constitutional Council, considering that these acts fall under the jurisdiction of the judicial police. In order to avoid a second snub, this time the government wants these new police powers for municipal agents to be carried out “under the control of the public prosecutor’s office”. Consultation with local elected officials and associations of elected officials will take place to transform this desire into a new legislative text.
The creation of a “republican action force” in areas exposed to insecurity
The creation of a “republican action force” (FAR), made up of police officers, but also finance officials, educational and judicial personnel, and even social workers, should make it possible to “concentrate all the efforts of the State in a district (…) for several months”. This measure aims to “address the difficulties that populations encounter, in terms of security, but also for judicial, educational or social responses”said Elisabeth Borne.
It will therefore be a question of “deploy more law enforcement, magistrates, educational and social staff in a given neighborhood, for a given period”, summarized Matignon, during a briefing reserved for the press. The objective of the FAR will be to “restore public peace, treat delinquency at the root and, beyond that, help families, fight against dropping out of school, promote integration, educate for citizenship, open access to culture, sport and leisure “. It will be managed locally by the mayor, the prefect and the public prosecutor. This force will be deployed for the first time “by the end of the year”in Besançon (Doubs), Valence (Drome) and Maubeuge (North), announced the Prime Minister.
A national plan to combat drugs
“We will soon present a new national plan to combat drugs”announced Elisabeth Borne, ensuring that she was responding to the request of local elected officials in this regard. “We must ensure that drug users are punished quickly”detailed the Prime Minister, ensuring that it was necessary “facilitate immediate payment” fixed fines “and improve their recovery”.
Strengthening the repressive arsenal against minors
The Prime Minister announced several measures to strengthen the repressive arsenal against minors who participate in urban riots, believing that there was a “crisis of authority”. Failure to comply with a curfew by a minor will now be punishable by “750 euros fine”against 150 euros today.
Furthermore, the government will propose to parliamentarians to vote on a text for “to be able to place young delinquents, on a compulsory basis, in educational units of the judicial protection of young people”. “In some cases”Elisabeth Borne says she is ready to “consider supervision of young delinquents by soldiers, who will be able in particular to transmit values of discipline and surpassing oneself”, a proposal put forward by the socialist candidate for the 2007 presidential election, Ségolène Royal. Furthermore, a new national strategy for the prevention of delinquency “will be presented at the beginning of 2024”.
The minister also recalled that the bill aimed at securing and regulating the digital space, currently being examined in parliament, provides for the establishment of a “digital ban”which will allow an account to be suspended on social networks for six months in the event of the dissemination of violent content online.
Measures to “empower” parents of young rioters
The head of government presented a strengthening of civil and criminal measures that could be taken against the parents of minors who commit crimes. Parliamentarians will have to decide on the possibility of pronouncing “parental responsibility courses or community service sentences (…) against parents who evade their educational duties”. Moreover, “a citizen and family financial contribution” will be created, at the expense of convicted minors and their parents, and to the destination “victims’ associations”.
The civil liability of both parents of the minor responsible for the damage will now be incurred to cover the damage, whether the parents are separated or not, and live with their child or not.
Reinforced support measures
“The Family Allowance Funds will give municipalities the necessary means to extend reception hours in leisure centers, in the morning or evening”, promised Elisabeth Borne. The Prime Minister said she wanted “strengthen social mediation” in priority neighborhoods, with more “adults who can be benchmarks and referents in the neighborhoods”.
She also recalled the will of Emmanuel Macron “to open schools a few days in August before the start of the school year, particularly for students in difficulty”and to see the Universal National Service (SNU) “grow in power”. She also recalled that the number of hours of moral and civic teaching in college will be “double”.
Furthermore, boarding accommodation will now be able to “fully supported” for children from families in difficulty, particularly single parents. Finally, new establishments for employment integration will be opened “in territories where the unemployment rate is particularly high”.