Equipped with telescopic batons or pedestrian cameras, the municipal police of Nantes do not have a gun.
The FO union and the elected representatives of the right-wing opposition are urging the town hall to review its position.
The question frequently comes to the fore, in Nantes but also in other major cities in France.
Should municipal police be armed?
In recent weeks, the demand has become even more pressing among the agents of the City of the Dukes, who regularly demonstrate in front of the doors of the Town Hall, with this demand among others (see box).
This Friday, in the municipal council, a debate (without vote) will take place on this theme, as the elected representatives of the right-wing opposition, in favor of the police holding a lethal weapon, have been able to request.
What is the equipment of a municipal police officer in Nantes?
Unlike the national police officers, the Nantes municipal police officers do not have a pistol.
It must be said that in theory, their missions are different, the former being supposed to be more confronted with situations of violence than the latter, especially present to regulate the public space.
However, in the face of insecurity, the equipment of the municipal police has evolved in recent years.
“They are equipped with a telescopic baton, but also tear gas canisters, some of which are considered weapons, details Pascal Bolo, deputy (PS) for security.
They also have pedestrian cameras, which are very effective in defusing tensions.
During patrols, there is always a vehicle nearby that contains a shield, in case of projectiles.
Finally, the electric pulse gun is a very good means of neutralization.
»
Why do officers ask to be armed?
According to Laurent Desgens, secretary general of the FO municipal police section, this arsenal is insufficient, an opinion which would be shared by a majority of agents.
"At Commerce, or on other deal points, we are often the first to intervene and we have no way of responding," he laments.
Recently, we counted nine colleagues injured in one week..." According to him, "violence has increased crescendo for ten years", to such an extent that it is no longer uncommon to come across individuals who are themselves equipped with a firearm, and this "even in the middle of the day, like the last time at 11 a.m. at Gloriette", he reports.
Councilor of the right and the center, Foulques Chombart de Lauwe shares this vision.
“Since the attacks of 2015, the police have become targets.
This weapon would be used in case of self-defense, not in maintaining order.
Of course, you will need good training.
According to him, "better protection" would also attract candidates, while the town hall, which decided to increase the number of staff, is struggling to recruit.
Twenty-five municipal police officers are due to arrive this year, in particular to develop the night presence.
What is the position of the mayor of Nantes?
"Would a lethal weapon protect them better?"
The answer is no”, assures Pascal Bolo.
Because for years, the position of the socialist town hall has not changed on this question, while more than half of these agents are now armed, in France.
“The objective of municipal police officers is to calm situations, to reassure.
The armament would be extremely cumbersome to manage in view of the low profits, believes Pascal Bolo.
I remind you that there was a tragedy at Breil!
".
According to him, it would even be an "instrumentalization" of the police by the Nantes right.
“Like the traders and certain inhabitants, they support us, but it stops there, replies Laurent Desgens of FO.
During demonstrations, they stay away.
»
reindeer
Rennes: Are the municipal police sufficiently armed to patrol at night?
Nantes
Nantes: Faced with insecurity, night professionals train in self-defense
A “constructive” meeting on salaries
At the same time, the municipal police and the town hall have started negotiations on salaries, which would be much lower in Nantes than in other cities.
The secretary general of the FO section indicates that a first “constructive” meeting took place this week.
The agents will therefore not demonstrate this Friday, but will be on strike like every Saturday morning between 5 and 7 am.
Security
Gun
Pays de la Loire
Local police
Police
Nantes
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