minimum sentences, juvenile delinquency, community policing… What are the main parties’ measures in terms of security?

Before the legislative elections, franceinfo takes stock of the main measures put forward in this campaign. In terms of security, the National Rally, the presidential majority and the left union each display their priorities.

Until the first round of the legislative elections, franceinfo details the programs of the main parties in the running and we are interested, Wednesday June 19, in security issues.

On the side of the National Rally, one of the strong measures put forward is the return of minimum sentences. If he is appointed Prime Minister, Jordan Bardella says he wants to pass a security law in the first weeks, in particular to restore the famous minimum sentences. This would concern offenses linked to drug trafficking but also attacks on persons holding public authority, such as, for example, attacks on police officers.

A minimum sentence is the infliction of a minimum sentence in the event of conviction, a sentence which is therefore automatic and cannot be reduced. These minimum sentences, against repeat offenders, were put in place in 2007, under the leadership of Nicolas Sarkozy and then removed, in 2014, by the left, in this case by Christiane Taubira. Today, the National Rally, just like the Republicans, wants their return. There is no mention of it, however, in the program of the New Popular Front.

For the presidential majority, the priority is to better fight against juvenile delinquency. With the desire to put in place short and rapid sentences, for minors over 16 years old, somewhat on the principle of immediate appearances. Gabriel Attal also says he wants to introduce a reduction in the minority excuse. He had already announced it in April, after the death of young Chamessedine, 15, beaten up as he left his college in Viry-Chatillon. This measure remains relevant in the presidential camp, even if the contours have not yet been specified. The example given last weekend by the Prime Minister is the case of a 16-year-old young person, responsible for repeated aggravated violence, who could then be judged exactly like an adult, without any reduction in the sentence.

On the National Rally side, what is mainly highlighted is the elimination of family allowances for parents of repeat minors. Finally, the union of the left does not propose repressive measures against minors, but promises to hire more agents of the PJJ, the judicial protection of youth.

The flagship measure of the New Popular Front in terms of security is to put community policing back in place. In its program, it is written that local police teams will be deployed in the first fifteen days in the event of victory. At the same time, the will “to ban LBDs and mutilating grenades” and to dismantle the BRAV-M in Paris, these motorcycle police officers present in the demonstrations. The New Popular Front also wants to introduce receipts during identity checks. But also remove the IGPN, the police force, which would then be replaced by an independent body, attached to the defender of rights.

None of this in the other parties. The RN has been advocating the presumption of self-defense for police officers for several years now, which is also what the unions are demanding. Clearly, the police would no longer have to prove that they were in self-defense when they opened fire. The burden of proof would be reversed and it would be up to the courts or the victims to demonstrate that the use of the weapon was illegal.

Finally, there is still one point of agreement between these parties: the need to provide more resources to justice. Thus, the New Popular Front wants to hire new magistrates in order to reduce trial times. The stated objective is also to combat prison overcrowding and ensure better detention conditions.

For its part, the National Rally proposes doubling the number of magistrates – which would mean creating 10,000 places – and making the competition more accessible, in particular to former police officers or ex-lawyers.

Finally, the presidential majority has, for its part, already approved the recruitment of 1,500 magistrates and 1,800 clerks by 2027.