“An alcoholic person followed me to my house, in the middle of the night. Without any light, I realized it in front of my door“, it’s time too much for Alexia, one of the seven students behind the survey on street harassment, and insecurity. For a month and until October 21, the inhabitants of Poitiers (Vienne), mostly students, had the opportunity to answer several questions: Have you been the victim of street harassment in Poitiers? If yes which ?
Nearly 3,000 testimonials
From 2,715 responsesmore 70% of the inhabitants feel that they have suffered whistles, arrests or assaults. And this figure rises to 80% for women. A student from Poitou even wrote: “I’m afraid to go out alone, even during the day”this is reported by Alexia and Laurina, two law students in charge of the survey.
The questionnaire also made it possible to determine thehe places where attacks take place and it is in the hyper-center: the station and its footbridge, Notre-Dame, the Grand’Rue, the rue des Cordeliers in particular. “It exists Angela’s Plan
in Bordeaux for example, we would like to set it up in Poitiers”, explains Laura. The code name Angela allows any victim of street harassment to discreetly ask for help and take refuge in a shop or bar.
I live under curfew – Alexia, student
Turning off the lights at night, a measure deemed too drastic
According to the testimonies collected, the feeling of insecurity is accentuated by the generalization of the extinction of the lights after midnight. “People go home with their flashlight, some don’t even dare to go out”regrets Alexia who judges this measure “too drastic”. The students therefore propose to combine energy sobriety, security and biodiversity.
It exists light sensors on streetlights the system I light up my street – an application that allows you to control public lighting via your smartphone – more municipal police officers at night and more secure Noctambus lines.
No words, but concrete solutions
The group met last October 21 lare elected by the City Amir Mistrih, security assistant and Théo Saget in charge of evaluating public policies. Beyond being received, they now hope to be heard.
In 2019, a previous survey on the subject was conducted by two other students. Alain Claeys, the mayor at the time, had even received them. But “nothing moves”, young people regret.