It all started with the trip to La Courneuve by Éric Mathais, prosecutor in Bobigny. With the mayor (PCF) of the city, Gilles Poux, and commissioner Marie Danion, he went to Quatre-Routes at the beginning of February, a black spot for street cigarette sales.
Faced with the scale of the phenomenon and the powerlessness of the authorities to stem it, the idea was born to strengthen the links between justice professionals and elected officials. “Two days later, we signed our first protocol relating to the reporting and monitoring of files concerning the city and elected officials,” indicates Éric Mathais. This manifesto in favor of “local justice” is open to all elected officials in Seine-Saint-Denis.
“A high level of violence”
It is also a more general context, which convinced the partners to formalize a form of mutual aid. “The continued high level of violence against elected officials and the important role of mayors in observing and reporting acts of incivility or delinquency have led us to increase resources in order to strengthen our relations with the elected officials,” explains the Bobigny prosecutor.
“For small, everyday cases, many litigants had the feeling that the cases were not handled well. This fueled the feeling of insecurity,” he continues. The head of the Bobigny public prosecutor’s office has provided the resources by drawing from a pool of around thirty contract workers in Bobigny, recruited within the framework of local justice.
The prosecutor went to meet the forty mayors of the department. The demand is strong but it is still less than the 224 municipalities of the Côte d’Or, when he was at the head of the Dijon public prosecutor’s office.
Better information and the hope of faster procedures
Faced with a judicial institution that is often intimidating and overwhelmed, elected officials did not necessarily have the reflex to turn to the magistrates. They will now be able to alert them to everyday incivilities, thanks to the setting up of a dedicated email box.
They may also request information about their role as a judicial police officer, for example if there is suspicion of a sham marriage. “Direct access to the floor will be given to them,” announces Éric Mathais. With this new system, there is renewed hope of seeing urban planning files processed more quickly and for elected officials, of being better informed about the progress of the procedure.
The mayor of La Courneuve admits: his services are tearing their hair out over these real headaches. In the fight against slumlords, Gilles Poux cites the emblematic case of a building on rue Guy-Moquet. “The building permit was granted fifteen years ago, but the owner transformed his house into housing and built other apartments behind it. We have initiated a procedure for non-compliance with the building permit but we are waiting for a court decision to be taken to stop the owner because during this time, he continues to receive the rent. »
Attacks and threats against mayors and deputies on the rise
Another sensitive subject taken into account by the protocol, attacks on elected officials. In 2021, the Ministry of the Interior recorded 1,186 attacks on elected officials, of which 605 concerned mayors or deputies. An increase of 47% in one year.
During the last three months of 2021, the National Assembly counted more than 800 reports of threats, targeting 430 deputies. Seine-Saint-Denis is no exception to the rule. Fouad Ben Ahmed, deputy mayor in Bobigny, confirms an increase in violence. He paid the price. His campaign office was burned two years ago, during the municipal elections.
Bondy, January 21. The car of Sylvine Thomassin, the former mayor (PS), was set on fire less than three days before the first round of municipal by-elections. DR
Same thing for Sylvine Thomassin, the former mayor (PS) of Bondy, victim of insulting tags and the burning of her car during the last municipal by-elections. “I undertake, or my chief of staff, to contact elected officials again. I will offer them information on the procedure. I hope that this protocol will encourage reporting by elected officials who are victims because sometimes they do not want to file a complaint. The goal is not to let the perpetrator go unpunished. This can prevent further violations. »
Sensitive police operations excluded from the system
Mayors would also like to be informed after sensitive police interventions in their municipality. “Twenty kilos of drugs were found in a school,” remembers Loïc Le Roux, deputy general director of services in the town of Aulnay, future signatory of the partnership.
But this is not provided for in the protocol. Just like disclosing information regarding an offender’s release from prison. Gilles Poux believes that such details could be useful: “When a person linked to drug trafficking in a neighborhood is released, this will create tensions and risks generating turf wars. It would be wise to be informed. We could ask mediators to be more attentive and strengthen human presence. »
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