Thibaud Hue / Photo credit: Stephane DUPRAT / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP
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09:58, July 10, 2023
After the nights of riots that followed the death of young Nahel, all eyes are on July 14. If the Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne announced a large security device, with in particular the ban on possessing firework mortars. But will the means be sufficient? Not sure, according to Jean-Christophe Couvy, national secretary SGP Police and FO Unit.
July 14 promises to be under high tension. The government is tightening the screw and wants to show that it is indeed regaining control after the riots that shook the country. Elisabeth Borne does not skimp on the safety device. Objective: to restore a lasting order. Prohibited gatherings, massive means to protect the French and prohibition of the sale, transport and port of fireworks mortars, enormously used against the police in recent days. But will that be enough? Jean-Christophe Couvy, national secretary SGP Police and FO Unit, in doubt.
“Given what we have seized in recent weeks, the equation will be to know what stock will have the bands and certain districts? Did they still have stocks? Have they redone their stocks very quickly? Every year, anyway, we are used to it”, underlines the national secretary Unit SGP Police and FO.
“Will the police force ensure that we are immediately proactive?”
“This sequence is up to whoever will burn the most cars, who will get the most police, who will create the most riots, who will attack the police stations. Will it resume or not? Is the police system going to ensure that right away, we’re going to be proactive, that we’re going to be able to block gangs in certain neighborhoods that are going to want to overrun? That’s going to be the whole point of this July 13 and 14 which is still psychologically important, because if we relive the same scenes (of riots editor’s note) as last week, it will still be a shock in society”, analyzes Jean-Christophe Couvy.
Regarding possible sanctions for the families of young rioters whose debate has been relaunched in recent days, on the right in particular, the Prime Minister warns: the executive will change the law if the existing legal framework is not sufficient.