Small streets of old Hyères paved with pretty signs, an arts trail making you want to stroll, a place Massillon where it is good to have lunch, dinner and drink a coffee. Those who work and live in old Hyères and frequent it as customers want to preserve it at all costs.
group of miners
However, for several months, the behavior of a group of about ten teenagers, aged between 12 and 16, has deteriorated in the afternoons and at the end of the day, the climate hitherto serene until the summer latest.
“Works”, according to the national police, broken or failing at school, and very often in provocation by their actions and gestures, these minors, sometimes accompanied by a few adults, rot daily life.
Rue Franklin, rue Massillon, in particular the top, rue and place du Portalet, place Rabaton… Young individuals, driven by the group phenomenon, have multiplied acts of incivility.
Cries, screams, tags, spitting on windows and in the street, regular insults towards staff and managers, dirt, kicks in windows and building doors – “they entered my neighbor’s house to put the mess in the hallway”testifies a resident -, fire of garbage cans, fights, consumption of alcohol on the public highway, throwing of eggs and thefts.
Like other old centers such as Toulon, the deal pollutes the atmosphere, Franklin and République streets. Two adults have already been arrested recently by police officers from the Hyères police station.
In an old center with a renovated arts course, no one wants “living well together” to be tainted by these behaviors and acts of petty crime, which are detrimental to turnover.
“In February, I lowered the curtain several times at 3 p.m., because I did not feel at peace working in these conditions”, admits a shopkeeper from rue Massillon. Another, installed for more than twenty years, asked a relative to be vigilant in his absence.
“There is more and more turnover in our staff linked to a fear”testifies another shopkeeper, tired of seeing verbal and physical aggression and racial and homophobic insults not all due to minors.
“Our customers feel insecure, just like us, merchants. (…) This situation can no longer last, neither for our business, nor for the image that it can reflect for our, your city (…)“, they wrote in a letter addressed to the mayor on February 26 with a copy to the prefect and the police commissioner. “I am the first to deplore that the action of justice is not sufficient to interrupt this process”deplores Jean-Pierre Giran.
Reinforced patrols
A petition circulated, and several consultation meetings were held. Municipal and national police patrols have been reinforced. “That’s a good answer”insists the Cil of the Upper Town.
However, she cannot be the only one. In the crosshairs: the lack of manpower resources of the National, and also of Justice, which continues to deplore with the Minister of the Interior and the prefect, the mayor, Jean-Pierre Giran. This did not prevent a joint police operation with the municipal authorities, this Wednesday afternoon, in the old center.
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Complaints classified “without follow-up”
“This gang of young people is creating problems in the old center, but also in front of the Casino and in the station district. They have been identified and arrested several times. Perhaps ten times, or even more for some”confirmed, this Wednesday, the mayor, Jean-Pierre Giran.
“Each time, we file a complaint and this is transmitted to the public prosecutor. The national police work with us. The tragedy is that, systematically, it is classifiedlaments the mayor. I do not question the probity of judges. But since they are not numerous enough, they classify.”
The fact is not new. In addition to the redeployment of cameras, consultation meetings in close connection with the national police, the City, listening to complaints, “increases efforts”. “The only solution today is to occupy the land. It takes a lot of municipal and national police officers. We take turns and we patrol”explains Fabrice Werber, Deputy Director General of Services.
“Today, this does not fall within the competence of the municipal police. They are made to carry out missions which are not theirs, wishes to clarify the mayor. In terms of security and justice, I remind you that it is a sovereign power. What is the state doing? This also raises the question of the age of criminal responsibility.
And to denounce, once again, “the lack of national police and justice personnel”.
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