« There is a big gendarmerie control on the Place de Signy-le-Petit. Some with machine gunssomething is happening… », supposes Alain, a resident of Thiérache. Gendarmes widely visible in the hamlet of Saint-Nicolas, between Revin and Rocroi, in Vireux and even in Givet. “ There are throughout the departmentadds Colonel Richard Pelatan, the commander of the Ardennes gendarmerie group. Today we have at least 150 gendarmes on the ground. »
Coordinated operation
A vast operation was carried out this Friday November 8, 2024« as we do very regularly, to fight against delinquency », points out Colonel Pelatan who continues: “ Usually, the four companies carry out their operations, this time it is coordinated across the entire department to have this visibility effect. »
However, the number 1 of the group wants to be reassuring, “ there is no special event ». « It is an operation to fight against delinquency and particularly to fight against burglaries and damage to propertyhe lists The Ardennes. We do it every year and we will do it again regularly.. » Because the period, with night falling earlier in the evening, is particularly conducive to an increase in this type of crime. “ This is true everywhere and unfortunately also here, in the Ardennes. »
It is an operation to combat delinquency and particularly to combat burglaries and property damage.
All the units of the group are therefore on the bridge, including the three Psig (gendarmerie surveillance and intervention platoon) and the road safety squadron. “ They are there more for researching traffic offenses and there also to expand the system. »
Controls which had three objectives: the possible search forinfractions and perpetrators, the dissuasive aspect of taking action and the preventive aspect. “ We take the opportunity to interact with the people being controlled », translates the group commander who warns: “ We are there to control the crime of appropriation, but if we notice blood alcohol content we will not turn a blind eye. »
