The Parisian municipal police, which celebrates its first anniversary on Tuesday, October 18, has made it a priority to “fight more firmly against disorder in the streets and on the sidewalks“, where the situation “needs to be improved“, according to the town hall.
The force created in 2021 by Anne Hidalgo must “better regulate traffic on streets and sidewalks“, where the “development of soft mobility» and «shared areas“arouse”disorders“, acknowledged his security assistant Nicolas Nordman in an interview with AFP.
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“Shrine the sidewalks”
The new body, on the way to becoming according to the town hall the first municipal police force in France with 555 police officers, wants better “protect the sidewalks“And sanction the non-respect of red lights, specified the elected socialist. Since the health crisis and the development of 52 km of cycle paths, bicycles and scooters have flourished in the capital, and with them the incivilities that endanger their users and pedestrians.
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To better fight against these abuses, the municipal police will double from 10 to 20 its number of officers responsible for verbalization by video, says Nicolas Nordman. Faced like the others with recruitment difficulties, it is still aiming for an overall workforce of 3,400 police officers in 2026, with a promotion of around 200 per quarter.
Growing pressure
During its first year of existence, the Paris municipal police, whose priorities, in addition to securing public space and respecting parking areas, are the fight against noise pollution or the control of terraces, drew up 1 .5 million minutes for all incivilities combined, or 4,400 per day, according to Nicolas Nordman.
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Its call center received an average of 700 calls per week. The municipal police, which carried out 1,500 joint operations with the national police, faced with increasing pressure in view of the 2024 Olympic Games, can allow the latter “to refocuson its main missions such as the fight against crime or terrorism, recalled Nicolas Nordman.
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