Tuesday July 11, 2023, the city of Angoulême unveiled a new decree which surprised many residents, activists and associations. Indeed, since that date, it would henceforth be prohibited for any person to lie down, sit or stand, under penalty of receiving a fine of 35 euros or up to 150 euros in the event of a repeat offence, if these postures generate “nuisances”. According to the decree, “any abusive and prolonged occupation” streets and other public spaces, i.e. by individuals grouped together, “immobile or not very mobile, not being in transit and generating nuisances that disturb the tranquility of passers-by or residents” is strictly prohibited. Since the publication of this ban signed by Jean-Philippe Pousset, security assistant for the city of Angoulême, many voices were raised. As reported Release this Tuesday, July 18, 2023, this unprecedented municipal decree could be canceled.
Two appeals filed with the Poitiers court
With this judgment, the town hall of Angoulême has set itself the objective of regulating and preventing the abusive occupation of public spaces located in the town center and any nuisance caused by “the marginals”. However, as reported Release, two appeals were filed with the administrative court of the city of Poitiers. One of the procedures was made this Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at the request of the League for Human Rights. “This decree, which aims to drive people in precarious situations out of the city center, is truly disproportionate and infringes fundamental freedoms. It is for these reasons that the League for Human Rights has filed an action for annulment, accompanied by an interim suspension against the decree in question”, declared François-Xavier Corbel, head of the legal department of the association for the defense of human rights. Tuesday, August 1, 2023, a hearing at the Poitiers court will decide whether or not to cancel the text applied.