Évry (AFP)

Edouard Philippe met Tuesday morning in Evry (Essonne), police and members of an integration association, the day after government announcements to improve the ethics of the police in the face of a mobilization against police violence.

Accompanied by Interior Ministers Christophe Castaner and Housing Minister Julien Denormandie, the Prime Minister must make a statement at midday, in the context of the international wave of anti-racist indignation linked to the death of George Floyd in the United States and the movement in France denouncing police violence.

"The trust between citizens and those who, in their service and on their behalf, receive the mission of being peacekeepers, is a central element of the republican pact," tweeted Edouard Philippe, at the start of his visit " in Evry to exchange with the police and the associative actors who work there on a daily basis. "

At the police station, he took stock with a delegation of police "on the prevention and strengthening of the link between the police and the population", according to Matignon.

He then went to the premises of the Generation 2 association, for an exchange on civic engagement and to recall "the government's determination to fight against all forms of racism or discrimination".

Founded 20 years ago, the association works for "well-being together" and brings together members of around sixty nationalities. "We must multiply the places of meeting with the police," said its president Aïsseta Cissé, explaining to Edouard Philippe that a police officer participates each month in a workshop with young people and parents.

Communist deputy Francis Chouat stressed that Generation II had "become an indispensable partner in national education".

The discussions focused in particular on the difficulties linked to the coronavirus crisis, in particular for dropping out of school or the lack of internships, as well as for activities this summer.

"We are looking at these questions very carefully," assured Edouard Philippe. "" We can see that a lot of things will be affected "this summer.

Julien Denormandie pointed out to him that the government was working on "the open school system" this summer with the aim of "multiplying by five the number of pupils welcomed".

Another "sacred challenge", according to the Secretary of State: the "learning colo. Typically, students from Evry are offered to go to Rochefort in a UCPA center, but in the morning there are lessons," he said. he explained, adding that the government was going to "make available to mayors within a week".

Emmanuel Macron, who has not spoken on the issue since the demonstrations against police violence, had visited this association on February 4, 2019, before holding a "great debate" in Evry.

Christophe Castaner advocated Monday at a press conference a "zero tolerance" of racism in the police, whose suspension will be "systematically considered for every suspicion proven" in the matter.

He also announced the abandonment of the controversial police method of arrest "taken by the neck, called strangulation" and a reform "in depth inspections of the Ministry of the Interior".

These announcements left the police unions "skeptical" and in particular the ban on the "strangulation technique".

Christophe Castaner said that the rallies planned for Tuesday in France to salute the memory of George Floyd and "fight racism in the police", although prohibited by law due to the health crisis, were tolerated and will not result in Sanctions".

© 2020 AFP