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Paris 'incivility brigades' to tackle antisocial behaviour Paris 'incivility brigades' to tackle antisocial behaviour
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If there is one thing that drives a Parisian crazy, it is other people’s antisocial behaviour.If there is one thing that drives a Parisian crazy, it is other people’s antisocial behaviour.
The men who relieve themselves in public against a city wall, the dog-owners who allow their animals to foul the pavements, the smokers who throw their cigarette ends on the ground, the litter-bugs; just listing them is guaranteed to bring public-spirited dwellers of the French capital out in a cold sweat.The men who relieve themselves in public against a city wall, the dog-owners who allow their animals to foul the pavements, the smokers who throw their cigarette ends on the ground, the litter-bugs; just listing them is guaranteed to bring public-spirited dwellers of the French capital out in a cold sweat.
Now the city authorities are planning a dedicated “incivility brigade” to hand out warnings and fines to persuade offenders to be better behaved.Now the city authorities are planning a dedicated “incivility brigade” to hand out warnings and fines to persuade offenders to be better behaved.
The new “security agents”, who are expected to hit the streets on 12 September, will be made up of around 1,900 people – beefing up an existing 1,200-strong “prevention and protection” force – and will have new powers.The new “security agents”, who are expected to hit the streets on 12 September, will be made up of around 1,900 people – beefing up an existing 1,200-strong “prevention and protection” force – and will have new powers.
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“The safety of people and their possessions is the work of the national police. The municipal agents of the new brigade will be tasked with tracking down and punishing all the incivilities that spoil life for Parisians,” the deputy mayor, Colombe Brossel, told journalists.“The safety of people and their possessions is the work of the national police. The municipal agents of the new brigade will be tasked with tracking down and punishing all the incivilities that spoil life for Parisians,” the deputy mayor, Colombe Brossel, told journalists.
Officers will be uniformed and issued with a wooden-handled truncheon or a teargas spray; 320 of them will form a rapid-reaction force to be on hand whenever needed, particularly at weekends, when they are expected to be kept busy mediating between noisy revellers and local residents.Officers will be uniformed and issued with a wooden-handled truncheon or a teargas spray; 320 of them will form a rapid-reaction force to be on hand whenever needed, particularly at weekends, when they are expected to be kept busy mediating between noisy revellers and local residents.
The unit will step in “during the evenings, nights and at weekends in response to urgent situations and to reinforce local security”, Brossel said.The unit will step in “during the evenings, nights and at weekends in response to urgent situations and to reinforce local security”, Brossel said.
Brossel, who presented details of the new unit to the council of Paris on Monday afternoon, described the move as an “administrative big bang” and would cost €10m (£8m) a year.Brossel, who presented details of the new unit to the council of Paris on Monday afternoon, described the move as an “administrative big bang” and would cost €10m (£8m) a year.
However, the measure will create only 32 new jobs, and critics claimed Paris’s Socialist-led council was simply shuffling existing services to create the new brigade.However, the measure will create only 32 new jobs, and critics claimed Paris’s Socialist-led council was simply shuffling existing services to create the new brigade.
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Brossel denied the accusation. “It’s not just a reorganisation … We’re investing in safety,” she said.Brossel denied the accusation. “It’s not just a reorganisation … We’re investing in safety,” she said.
While the state can summon a rapid and impressive display of gendarmes, crowd control and riot forces as well as national police for demonstrations and protests, city-dwellers have long complained of an absence of the equivalent of the British bobby on the beat on Paris streets.While the state can summon a rapid and impressive display of gendarmes, crowd control and riot forces as well as national police for demonstrations and protests, city-dwellers have long complained of an absence of the equivalent of the British bobby on the beat on Paris streets.
A previous Socialist government introduced “proximity police” in communities across the country in 1998, but these were disbanded by the centre-right government of Nicolas Sarkozy in 2003.A previous Socialist government introduced “proximity police” in communities across the country in 1998, but these were disbanded by the centre-right government of Nicolas Sarkozy in 2003.
Last year, city-hall agents issued 52,000 verbal warnings to residents, half for blocking the public highway and pavements. Since fines were introduced for throwing cigarette ends in a public space, last October, 2,000 smokers have been ordered to pay €68. Each year, city hall employees collect 350 tonnes of cigarette butts from its 2,900km of pavements and 1,600 km of roads.Last year, city-hall agents issued 52,000 verbal warnings to residents, half for blocking the public highway and pavements. Since fines were introduced for throwing cigarette ends in a public space, last October, 2,000 smokers have been ordered to pay €68. Each year, city hall employees collect 350 tonnes of cigarette butts from its 2,900km of pavements and 1,600 km of roads.
Until 2004, Paris also boasted a fleet of “Motocrottes”, motorised pooper-scooters that would pick up dog dirt. These were abandoned after accountants calculated they rid the city of only 20% of the 350 tonnes of canine faeces deposited on the streets at a cost of €4,5m a year.Until 2004, Paris also boasted a fleet of “Motocrottes”, motorised pooper-scooters that would pick up dog dirt. These were abandoned after accountants calculated they rid the city of only 20% of the 350 tonnes of canine faeces deposited on the streets at a cost of €4,5m a year.