It is a decision that is talked about a lot.
At the end of the city council of the day before, the mayor (DVD) of Poissy, Karl Olive, had a vote of 36 out of 39 votes for the suspension, or even the abolition if necessary, of municipal aid to juvenile delinquents.
"For six months, I have observed an upsurge in minor delinquency and I believe more than ever in the reciprocity between rights and duties", underlines the elected official.
The deliberation mentions “damage to buses by throwing stones […], fires in garbage cans on the public highway, fights between young people, use of mortar against the police” or even “the car-ram attack and the fire against the local LP Corneille associations ”.
Put in place in 1998 in Étampes (Essonne) and more recently in Rillieux-la-Pape (Lyon metropolis) and Valence (Drôme), the measure finds a new echo.
"Since Tuesday morning, five mayors of France have called me to have access to the deliberation", recalls Karl Olive.
LP / OB
Among the aid affected by this measure, the Pass'Sport club and Pass'Culture, which subsidize the annual contributions of young people aged 11 to 17 to a level of 30 euros, enrolling in a local sports or cultural association.
The decision also applies to scholarships that some college and high school students may receive, the amount of which varies between 100 and 400 euros per month.
Optional aid as a lever
“Despite the work of the police, we have no criminal response commensurate with the crimes and we are sending a message of impunity.
I consider that these optional municipal aid is not a blank check, ”insists the mayor of the city, who allocates more than 100,000 euros per year to reduce club license fees.
In the event of a call to order or a final judgment following an offense disturbing public order, these aids will therefore be suspended and even canceled in the event of a repeat offense.
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However, the responsibility does not fall only on young people but also on their parents since these suspensions will only be effective in the event of refusal of parental support offered by social services.
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“In some cases, parents do not come to the police station, a minority is sometimes even complicit.
This measure is a tool for reweaving the link with families and does not concern life support such as school canteens or family allowances, ”recalls Karl Olive.
A "legitimate and courageous decision"
For Monique, who has lived in Poissy for thirty years, this decision is welcome: “Insofar as there is a flagrant laxity, it is not bad but it would also be necessary to apply legal sanctions, with community service by example.
"Massyl, high school student, believes that" it can put pressure on the young people concerned "but is" not sure that this is the best way ".
LP / OB
President of the Poissy football club, Olivier Szewezuck welcomes a “legitimate and courageous decision” although he tempers the extent of juvenile delinquency: “We have very few cases among the young people of our association.
If there were any problems with one of them, we would deal with them even upstream of these measures.
We are doing a lot of prevention actions in this direction but it is important that there be awareness.
"
The double penalty for precarious families
A resident of Poissy for eight years, Catherine however considers this decision "unfair" for parents whose purchasing power will be affected.
“In some cases, they don't know how to deal with the problem with children who can scare them,” explains the mother.
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26-year-old Céline believes that this measure alone is not enough: “It will put more difficulties in families and young people will perhaps even do more stupid things.
Above all, there must be support behind.
"
The issue of insecurity, particularly in the context of a health crisis, is also raised by the Secours populaire de Poissy.
Its secretary general, Guy Le Ster, prefers to intervene differently.
"We receive young people to prevent them from being in the prison circuit too early," he explains.
They come to do a few missions with us and invest a lot.
They do not necessarily come from sensitive neighborhoods elsewhere and discover deep insecurity.
It gives them a certain vision of society.
"
THE MAYOR OF MANTES-LA-JOLIE TENT, THE MAYOR OF SARTROUVILLE SHARES
Thirty kilometers from Poissy, the mayor (LR) of Mantes-la-Jolie observes with interest the decision taken by Karl Olive.
Upon the announcement of his counterpart, Raphaël Cognet had his legal services study the deliberation taken in Poissy.
"This is indeed something that could interest us here," confides the elected official, also a member of the Génération Terrain association co-founded by Karl Olive in 2017. But we must first verify that it is legally unassailable.
If so, it is an idea that I will study with interest, in agreement with my municipal office.
I appreciate the emphasis on discretion.
"
Raphaël Cognet was particularly won over by the implementation of this decision, which comes at the end of a prevention and mediation process.
“It's not a binary trick that immediately sanctions.
It happens at the end of a chain, it is a bit like the stick that comes to sanction when everything has been tried, ”adds the mayor.
Which evokes these “refractory families, for whom we try everything and who are not punished”.
"A false good idea" according to Pierre Fond
For his part, the mayor (LR) of Sartrouville, is more than shared and even speaks of a "false good idea".
If he says he understands Karl Olive “on the bottom”, Pierre Fond, “asks to see”.
According to him, this proposal "poses a certain number of questions" and would risk "creating unjust situations".
“Take the example of a single woman raising several children.
One of them is acting badly.
Do we have to punish the whole family?
wonders the chosen one.
Things are not that simple.
I would prefer a more efficient justice, which really punishes those who must be, rather than transforming the mayor into a judge by means of social assistance.
"
