In Toulouse, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau unveiled a tough strategy to combat delinquency, focusing on reshaping past operations and emphasizing “day-to-day security.” He advocated for stronger municipal police powers, collaboration with reservists, and a new anti-drugs initiative aimed at addressing narcobanditisme. Retailleau expressed goals for implementing lasting change, whilst publicly distancing himself from former Minister Gérald Darmanin. However, potential legislative efforts may face hurdles due to the current political landscape in the National Assembly.
Bruno Retailleau unveiled his comprehensive approach to tackling crime during a recent address in Toulouse. This initiative includes refining ‘place nettes’ operations, enhancing daily security in local areas, introducing a new anti-drug plan, and leveraging reservists. Speaking at the national police academy, with simultaneous broadcasts in other cities, Retailleau emphasized a vigorous campaign against delinquency, echoing calls for a ‘relentless war on criminals’ and citing historical military figures.
Empowering Municipal Police
Retailleau urged law enforcement to adopt a vigilant stance, asserting that they must represent the essential strength of order. On assuming his role, he had previously articulated a clear goal of “restoring order,” directing pointed remarks at his predecessor, Gérald Darmanin. He acknowledged the mixed outcomes of the previous ‘place nettes’ operations and proposed a reorganization to focus on achieving enduring results, rather than transient effects.
To enhance effectiveness, he plans for greater collaboration with the judicial system to streamline arrest processes. Additionally, a coordinated directive will be forthcoming, in collaboration with Justice Minister Didier Migaud, aimed at refining delinquency management methodologies and developing a dynamic mapping of crime hotspots.
Retailleau will soon convene a gathering of prefectorial leaders, departmental police chiefs, and gendarmerie commanders, instructing them to create tailored plans to restore security in their jurisdictions. In light of fiscal constraints, he advocated for an expansion of municipal police powers and proposed joint patrols that would grant these officers access to vital data resources.
‘Using Drugs Comes with Consequences’
He also highlighted the potential for local authorities to engage ‘police or gendarmerie reservists’ to strengthen public safety. Retailleau emphasized a model focused on strategic patrols, contrasting with his predecessor’s approach of simply increasing visible police presence in line with President Emmanuel Macron’s strategy. Furthermore, he reaffirmed his commitment to a new anti-drug initiative aimed at combating drug trafficking, drawing on insights from a recent Senate inquiry report.
A veteran of the LR senators, Retailleau is eager for the government to adopt legislative measures stemming from the Senate’s findings, seeking to bolster legal frameworks to address crime. Proposed measures include establishing a ‘repentant’ status, creating a specialized public prosecutor’s office, increasing asset seizure protocols, and amplifying the enforcement of fines for drug-related activities, underscoring the serious implications of drug use and its connection to violence.
All these efforts aim to initiate a national campaign akin to those previously undertaken against terrorism. Nevertheless, the current landscape in the National Assembly, marked by a lack of majority support, poses significant challenges for advancing these legislative proposals.