A flat-rate fine of 200 euros for drug use is generalized from Tuesday.

If the measure is debated, it seduces Yves Lefèbvre, secretary general of the SGP Police-FO Unit union, who sees it as the beginning of a still too weak criminal response and the possibility of fighting against trafficking.

INTERVIEW

To dissuade users, fight against traffickers and allow the redeployment of the police to other missions: here, to listen to Yves Lefèbvre, secretary general of the SGP Police-FO unit union, all the advantages of the establishment a fixed fine for drug use.

From Tuesday, any adult in possession of identity documents who will be checked with a small quantity of narcotics may be fined 200 euros, with registration in the criminal record.

A measure criticized but which the trade unionist considers appropriate.

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"This will begin to simplify the procedure. Until now, when questioning consumers, we had an adjustment variable between ten or so procedural acts. This means the mobilization of personnel during this time, opinions diverse and varied and little, if ever, criminal response, ”explains Yves Lefèbvre.

With the fine, "finally, we will initiate the penal response which is sorely lacking today".

"Slow down the market and put a wedge in the traffic"

In addition, the police put on a dissuasive effect.

These fines "will serve to slow down the market and, let's be optimistic, to put a serious wedge in traffic. Fewer buyers means fewer sellers."

Wouldn't it be better to attack networks, rather than small consumers, as some players in the field argue?

"Before hitting the big sellers, the dealers, we must have much more courageous policies", sweeps Yves Lefèbvre.

"We will have to want to regain a foothold in the neighborhoods, stop the lawless areas."

According to him, the flat-rate fine is therefore "a first interesting system".

"If we get less police mobilization on these procedures, we can redeploy them to really tackle traffic and lawless areas."

Yves Lefèbvre also rejects the option of legalizing certain narcotics, in particular cannabis, which represents the overwhelming majority of cases in which the fine will be imposed.

"Personally, I am opposed to it because we know that starting with cannabis resin is often a first step towards hard drugs," says the trade unionist.