Le Figaro Lyon
General mobilization Saturday morning around the Place du 8 Mai 1945. The prefecture had reinforced the presence of national police patrols to avoid the holding of the street market which had become difficult to control in the United States district, in the 8th arrondissement of Lyon .
Even the HLM Grand Lyon Habitat office was on deck to avoid a rescheduling of hawkers between buildings like last week.
With success this time.
“The street vendors were dissuaded today thanks to the national police who are strengthening their presence at the request of the prefect in order to guarantee public tranquility,”
welcomed the prefect responsible for security, Juliette Bossart-Trignat.
Residents and elected officials have complained in recent weeks about a situation which has worsened and developed since 2017, becoming difficult to control.
The district mayor, Olivier Berzane, told Le
Figaro
that up to 450 sellers were present.
Sellers - whose merchandise is not always legal - who sell cigarettes and medicines in particular.
“There are not only clothing sellers,”
we recognize in the corridors of the prefecture.
These wild markets can be an opportunity for trafficking of all kinds.
Thanks to in-depth work on the subject, we regularly arrest individuals reselling contraband cigarettes and dismantle networks through our investigations
.
“Constant effort”
“This is primarily a municipal responsibility
,” reacts those close to the Rhône prefect, Fabienne Buccio.
The national police intervene in support to reinforce the presence during times when this wild market is likely to recreate
.
A market which, for seven years, has been grafted onto the official one, held at the same time.
But today, its scale has become problematic.
Discussions took place with the environmentalist majority in the city of Lyon.
Olivier Berzane and Mohamed Chihi, deputy delegate for security, were present on site Saturday morning alongside Juliette Bossart-Trignat.
The first recalled
“the continued presence of municipal police crews”
and
“a constant effort by the metropolitan services to clean the market square”
.
The district mayor also highlights the appearance of 80 people in the courthouse as a reminder of the legal and civic obligations with regard to garbage deposits.
And recalls the investment of 140,000 euros to enclose the area for bowling and neighboring children's games.
The prefecture intends to continue this “strengthening of the police presence to oust street vendors”
in the coming weeks
.
With the risk of the problem shifting, while several wild markets have been closed in recent years, such as at Guillotière or Laurent Bonnevay.