It is an image that we can see more and more on social networks: police or gendarmerie services distributing their new company vehicles, Peugeot 5008s.
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On Friday 29 January, the Rhône departmental public security directorate (DDSP) posted on Twitter photos of 20 new vehicles which, she explains, "
will improve the working conditions of our patrols for a better service to the public
”.
In previous weeks, all over France, many other services have also posted similar photos or videos.
Renewing one in four vehicles
The arrival of these new vehicles follows a promise from the Minister of the Interior, Gerald Darmanin, at the end of November 2020. “
Commitment kept for our law enforcement agencies.
The news 5008 of the national police and the gendarmerie have arrived!
Objective: to improve the working conditions of those who risk their lives to protect us.
Before the end of the year, 1300 vehicles delivered,
”he wrote on Twitter.
“
On the occasion of the examination of the 3rd amending finance law for 2020, Parliament voted to reinforce the appropriations of the Ministry of the Interior of 75 million euros to initiate the renewal of the fleet of police and gendarmes
”, specified the Ministry of the Interior at the end of December on its website.
“
This renewal will continue in 2021 thanks to the appropriations provided for in the 2021 finance law and in recovery.
They will allow a historic renewal of the car fleet of the internal security forces to the tune of a quarter of the vehicles
”, it is specified.
Mention is made of 1335 Peugeot 5008 thermal vehicles, manufactured in France (in Sochaux and Rennes), but also of 1263 electric vehicles and 1500 electric bicycles, which “
arrive in police stations and barracks
”.
Transport the material
When contacted, the communication service of the National Police indicates that the new 5008 vehicles are intended "
for public security personnel who go into the field, such as, for example, police-rescue crews
".
Their new serigraphy and their luminous lamp on the roof are intended in particular to make them more visible.
Essential point: these vehicles have a large trunk.
A real advantage for the transport of equipment (helmets, heavy vests, etc.), which is increasingly imposing in the context of a terrorist threat.
The gradual arrival of new vehicles is good news for field agents.
For many years, the latter have complained about the lack of material resources.
In a recent interview with
Le Figaro
, Linda Kebbab, SGP-FO unit union delegate, mentioned in particular the dilapidated premises, out-of-service computers or even “
dilapidated cars
”.
See also
- Beauvau de la sécurité: the police suffer from the syndrome of "the besieged citadel", regrets a trade unionist