The BBC paints a dire picture of law enforcement in France’s tense immigrant-majority housing estates.
Policemen liken their job to a military mission. Operations are planned by senior commanders, with underlings making emergency calls and the foot soldiers carrying out the assaults. “What we have is urban warfare“, says one of them. And it’s highly dangerous. “They are now out to kill cops.”
Recently, police responding to an emergency call in Epinay-sur-Seine, north of Paris, drove into a trap – two cars blocked their vehicle, which was set upon by dozens of youths wielding iron bars and knives. The officers fought their way out without firing their guns, but one ended up in hospital with a broken jaw. Even washing machines are dropped from tower blocks on official vehicles.
The violence in French suburbs has devastating consequences on police morale. Those posted there can’t leave fast enough. Those with enough seniority get transferred to the provinces.
Many in the police blame the situation on soft judges reluctant to jail the young offenders. After last year’s disturbances, only one minor in Seine-Saint-Denis was imprisoned out of 85 prosecuted. The head of the local tribunal is even nicknamed “Father Christmas” by delinquents.
Whether France’s housing estates need soft “prevention” or tough repression is a matter of debate. What is beyond dispute, however, is that the law is no longer enforced in many of France’s deprived suburbs. Both sides are afraid of each other and as long as the climate of fear prevails, the urban warfare will continue.
Related: One year after riots in the suburbs: Has France changed?
[tags]France,Paris,Paris suburbs,Paris riots[/tags]
