“When I see three young people piled up in a car who leave for a kebab, I try to tell them about their parents. They, I can see that they don't care about the coronavirus but I try to explain to them that if they transmit it to their loved ones it can be much more serious. For this field cop stationed in Paris and in the suburbs, the teaching is permanent. Not always sufficient. “We sometimes face an audience that does not have an innate respect for the laws of the Republic. So this law is ignored or circumvented like the others, she says nothing fatalistic. Over time we sort it out. We quickly spot those who are in the car to go to work and that we leave alone, and the others… ”
In France since the start of confinement, more than 6 million checks have been carried out by the police and gendarmes, with more than 400,000 verbalizations. “Frankly, we don't verbalize everyone. The homeless, unaccompanied minors, what do you want us to do? They will not pay the fine and given their health and our means of protection we prefer to drop confesses this Parisian peacekeeper. In addition they are chased from the subway corridors in the evening so they roam the streets at night. "
"Reinvest in neighborhoods where it is very difficult to get a foot in the habit"
So, even if crime has dropped dramatically throughout France, the police note an increase in pickpocketing and trailer travel, especially inside parked cars. "At night in the deserted streets everyone uses, including in some shops that have closed, you have to be vigilant about it", confirms an officer.
In the provinces, the police note better respect for containment measures, even if this southern police official clearly sees during the checks that the population "finds it hard to present this exemption. They perceive it for some as an intrusion into their life, their habits. "
But the real downside remains these large urban areas. "There are always queues at some of the Seine-Saint-Denis deal points," says a BAC officer in the sector. And here as much to tell you that the barrier gestures they have nothing to polish ». Others of his colleagues take the opportunity nevertheless to be more present in these areas: "There is still less crowds and pressure than usual and clearly we are taking advantage of this to reinvest in neighborhoods where it is very difficult to put a foot usually, "confirms a brigadier from Val-d'Oise.
They deplore the D system still in progress to protect themselves
This Friday, all these field policemen were able to watch a training video: a kind of manual for police control during confinement: "The principle is distance," mocks a Parisian peacekeeper. No more security palpation, which can put us in danger. As for motorists' checks, it is advisable to carry them out with the windows closed. Here again we prefer to be able to make them open windows. If it degenerates, you must be able to immerse a hand or an arm in the passenger compartment. "
Above all, the police deplore the D system still in progress to protect themselves. “We live with donations of masks from pharmacies. And in Paris, a mechanic lent us washable covers for our cars when we transport suspects, ”says a guard. In the Hérault, each car is equipped with a cleaning kit. "As soon as we transport a suspect arrested, we wash the interior with hydroalcoholic gel and gloves."