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Crack, drug addicts, waste… These lost gardens in the northeast of Paris

2020-06-17T22:21:49.427Z


Barely reopened, the parks and gardens in the northeast of Paris attract new drug addicts and dealers, despite the various measures taken


Garbage piled up, open scenes of drug addiction. In the northeast of the capital (10th, 18th, 19th arrondissements), strolling in green spaces is often no longer a walk in the park. And the reopening after months of confinement, both expected and feared in these sectors, parks and gardens, looks like it is mistaken for a sad recovery in continuity. Despite the measures implemented, including the use of private security companies, mandated by the City in the most problematic sectors. And the multiplication of cleaning operations ... Up to six per week.

Many were worried about a sad return to reality, stubborn for months, at the reopening of the parks. Fadila Méhal elected in the 18th century, (Democrats and progressives), sharing the wish of Anne Hidalgo (PS) to give back their green lungs to Parisians, was moved by the Paris Council, of "the deplorable state of certain green spaces in Eastern Paris. »« I am thinking in particular of Eole, Rosa-Luxembourg abandoned to crack and refuse. A scandal, "she said.

"The situation has gotten out of hand"

The Eole gardens (18th century), precisely, around which the crack smokers had settled in numbers during the closure of the park, causing a torrent of reactions on social networks, have been reinvested by drug addicts.

The small park on rue du Département is also totally impassable, like the garden at 31, rue de la Chapelle, delivered in July 2019 only, as part of the projects selected for the participative budget: a field of ruins, populated by drug addicts and marginal. A petition has also been launched requesting security of the premises and increased police presence.

Park on the rue du Département, Paris (18th century), this Tuesday, June 16. Even the presence of security agents from the City of Paris does not seem to dissuade drug addicts ... LP / Olivier Lejeune  

"This park, which cost 185,000 euros, was intended to improve the daily lives of residents, but the situation has become uncontrollable," deplore the residents, who detail: "Squat of dozens of people, night and day, drug addiction and deal, violence between individuals, and towards the inhabitants, litter on the ground and overflowing trash cans, noise pollution at night… ”.

Actions in Stalingrad have moved the problem

“The gardens in the northeast are a big concern, and the fight against crack, a Parisian priority. We will not let go, insists Colombe Brossel, the security assistant to the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo. This is why we really need a police presence on all consumption and deal scenes… Not just Place Stalingrad. A place where the focus was recently put on as part of the city's vast crack plan.

The prosecutor of Paris, Rémy Heitz, and the prefect of police, Didier Lallement, have recently set up an ambitious device, aiming to “tire” the traffic and the consumption of drugs on the sector. While the city services installed barriers closing the arcades where the crack addicts were hiding. The benches were also removed, and the police presence greatly strengthened, while arrests, therapeutic orders and bans on appearing multiplied.

Only, here, the actions carried out, noticed by the residents, have also led to numerous reports of drug addicts, towards the gardens of Eole, Rosa-Parks, Macdonald (XIXth), Marcadet (XVIIIth)…

"I have the impression that we are trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon"

And the dismantling of a network of three suspected crack traffickers last Thursday, by investigators from the 2nd judicial police district (DPJ) in Stalingrad, fails to reassure the inhabitants of the north-east on the improvement of their parks and gardens. "I have the impression that we are trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon," tackles one of them.

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"It is intolerable for the users of these green spaces and the residents," acknowledges Colombe Brossel, who has just written again to the prefect of police. The marauders, the socio-medical approach are there, but we also need targeted and strategic action by the police in each location. ”

Source: leparis

All news articles on 2020-06-17

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