Following the resignation of the mayor of Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, whose house was burned down, the government announced measures in mid-May to combat violence against elected officials. Faced with this problem, the executive is now announcing, this Friday, a national prevention and control plan.
Legal and psychological protection, physical protection, judicial measures: here is the national plan for preventing and combating violence against elected officials that Dominique Faure, the Minister Delegate in charge of Local Authorities, will announce on Friday July 7 in Le Creusot, in Saône-et- Loire, before the Congress of French Cities. Franceinfo was able to learn about it from the minister’s office. It comes in addition to the measures announced by the minister in mid-May after the resignation of Yannick Morez, mayor of Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, whose home was targeted by fire.
>> Violence against elected officials: what the plan announced by the Minister for Local Authorities Dominique Faure contains
This plan aims to “better protect our elected officials” For “better protect our Republic”, underlines the ministry. It revolves around four main areas: strengthening the legal and psychological protection of elected officials, their physical protection, legal measures and strengthening relations between mayors and prosecutors. The Minister hopes that all of these measures will be operational by the end of the year.
Legal and psychological protection
The government intends that no more mayor give up protecting themselves in the face of a threat. Their legal protection will be made automatic in the event of violence, without going through a deliberation of the municipal council, which is currently the case. “In the event that the elected official acts as an agent of the State, it is the State itself which may grant functional protection to an elected official”.
The executive also wants the remainder of the procedural and insurance costs to be reduced for elected officials. The plan recommends special packages with insurance. The maximum size of municipalities for which the State will bear the insurance costs will increase from 3,500 to 10,000 inhabitants.
A psychological support desk for elected officials who are victims of violence and their families will be set up, in collaboration with victim support associations.
physical protection
To better secure public buildings and allow rapid identification of those who commit offences, the government wants to cover part of the expenses of communities wishing to equip themselves with local protection devices. This can go through video surveillance, alarms, or the use of a private protection company. Surveillance cameras will also be deployed in gendarmeries and police stations. The government also wants to promote the deployment of call buttons for elected officials in order to strengthen their security.
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On the judicial level
On the judicial side, Dominique Faure advocates zero tolerance for those who attack elected officials. For cases of harassment, an aggravating circumstance will be created so that the judge can impose heavier penalties, for example in the case of cyberbullying. In mid-May, the government had shown its desire that in the event of an attack on elected officials, the penalties would be the same as in the event of an attack on the police.
On the follow-up of complaints, the Minister wants to impose, in the event of a dismissal, that the reasons be communicated systematically and quickly to the elected representative concerned.
Strengthening the link between mayors and prosecutors
Finally, the government wants to strengthen relations between mayors and prosecutors. Thus the public prosecutors will be able to have a space of communication in the municipal bulletin to better inform the elected officials. Cross-training between mayors and magistrates will also be put in place. The minister wants “each one becomes more aware of the stakes of the other”.
On May 17, Minister Dominique Faure had already presented several measures, such as a “center for analysis and fight against attacks on elected officials” which will make it possible to set up a “database” and a mapping of violence against elected officials, or the creation of a “security package” with more than 3,400 referrers “attacks on elected officials” in the police stations and the gendarmeries on the territory. The reinforcement of the elected alarm system was also announced so that each elected official can report if he feels in danger or faces a risky situation.