For almost a week, special media attention has been focused on the sensitive district of Guillotière, in the 7th arrondissement of Lyon.
There are two reasons for this: a distressing reality linked to insecurity and a weakness in the action of the public authorities denounced by many traders and residents.
To read also "It becomes too dangerous": in the heart of the Guillotière, district of Lyon plagued by delinquency
What to give some cold sweats to the ecological municipality as well as to the parquet floor and to the prefecture of the Rhône.
To testify to their involvement and reaffirm their authority, the prefect, the prosecutor and the mayor were all together this Friday, November 19 afternoon on the occasion of a large-scale police raid, mobilizing 130 police officers at Place Gabriel Péri .
A perfectly orchestrated operation to which the press was graciously invited.
130 police officers from the national, municipal and customs police were mobilized this Friday at Place Gabriel Péri.
Nicolas Daguin.
The trio, accompanied by a dozen journalists, set off on foot from the prefecture to rally Gabriel Péri a little before 3 p.m. On the spot were also present Ivan Bouchier, the prefect of the Rhône delegate for security, and Mohamed Chihi, the assistant for security of the city. After some exchanges with the police forces present and in particular the sector commissioner Vanessa Mazière, a press conference was granted. The opportunity for Prefect Mailhos to publicly repeat that “
daily
” and “
significant
”
means
Are deployed to manage the situation at La Guillotière.
He said the police had carried out 4,000 checks and 1,000 arrests since the start of the year - 40% of which relate to minors - resulting in 75 imprisonments.
For a total of 350 police operations carried out, ie
"more than one per day"
.
And to recall that in addition to the police force already present, he had
"obtained, for five weeks, the complement of 33 CRS"
.
"It will move"
Regarding the judicial aspect, the public prosecutor of Lyon Nicolas Jacquet praised
"a mobilized judicial authority"
.
The magistrate recalled that 482 minors had been brought before children's judges since January 1 and that 116 had been imprisoned.
“
We are far from this notion of impunity.
Justice is there to judge the facts.
A profile, a journey,
”he underlined.
Read also Guillotière district in Lyon: eight undocumented migrants arrested during a new police operation
“
The police presence is important to secure the place, but it's not just that.
The police reinforcement is occasional but other actions are carried out, on the social support - in particular on the populations plagued by addiction, or on the urban reconfiguration of this place
”, for his part pointed out Grégory Doucet, the Mayor of Lyon.
The city council has also announced the commitment of "
works from January 2022 to rework the urban development of this place
".
"It will move,"
he argued.
Read alsoInsecurity: the anger of traders in the Guillotière district in Lyon
In a statement sent in the evening to
Le Figaro
, the prefecture announced that 22 individuals had been arrested this Friday, including nine in an irregular situation taken care of by the border police.
Five for street selling of cigarettes and opiate drugs, two for carrying a prohibited weapon and two others for concealment of theft.
Three customs procedures were also initiated after the seizure of twelve packs of psychotropic drugs, and nine cubic meters of objects were evacuated from the wild market.
22 individuals were arrested including nine in an irregular situation, taken in charge by the border police.
Five for street selling of cigarettes and opiate drugs, two for carrying a prohibited weapon and two others for concealment of theft.
Nicolas Daguin.
As soon as the cat leaves, the mice start dancing again!
A resident of the Guillotière district
Notwithstanding the strong and declared will of the public authorities to curb the scourge of insecurity in La Guillotière, it is clear that these efforts are not yet sufficient.
“Police raids should be daily.
We do not care that there are ad hoc staff reinforcements, as we have heard.
As soon as the cat leaves, the mice start dancing again!
Again and again, ”
grumbles a local resident.
“I hear people say 'you have to stop them, you have to stop them', but that's bullshit. Small vendors are pedestrians. We stop ten, there are ten more who come back. We must make their life impossible. It shouldn't be a good deal to come here, ”
adds a second
.
"It remains fairly calm tonight because the press is around and the police trucks are still there but tomorrow morning, when the cavalry is gone, it will be a mess again"
, observes a shopkeeper, resigned.
