the essential
Around forty Bordeaux municipal police officers are on strike this Friday, June 28. In a city where “insecurity is increasing enormously”, they demand to be equipped with lethal weapons.
Bordeaux municipal police officers began a strike on Friday, renewable until July 14, to demand to be equipped with lethal weapons, a request “under examination”, according to the municipality.
Around forty of the approximately 140 municipal police officers, “the vast majority of whom are stationary” according to the CGT, gathered, whistles in mouth, around 11 a.m., in front of the Town Hall. Faced with the “disengagement of the national police”, “the police are anxious because, as first responders, they are exposed” in a city where “insecurity is increasing enormously”, points out Jérôme Desorthes, spokesperson for the Bordeaux municipal police and elected CGT. “The brawls, the seizures of bladed weapons, it’s almost every day,” he adds.
The fatal knife attack on the banks of the Garonne in April created “a real awareness” in the ranks, adds the unionist. Bordeaux municipal police officers, unlike those in other municipalities in the metropolis, do not have firearms but are equipped with pulse pistols, gas cannons and telescopic batons.
40 additional national police officers from September
Eleven of the twelve demands addressed to the City by municipal police officers regarding their working conditions and their equipment “have received a response to date and the twelfth, relating to lethal weaponry, is currently being examined.” writes to AFP the office of the mayor, Pierre Hurmic.
“Sensitive to this demand, a direct consequence of a disengagement of the State having left the national police field teams understaffed for too long”, the municipality specifies having obtained “40 additional national police officers from September 2024” in the part of an integrated security contract soon to be signed with the State, after three years of discussions. She will also recruit 30 municipal police officers and install 60 additional cameras.
“Sheriff Mayor”
Pierre Hurmic “had to make his decision on July 4, postponed due to the legislative elections. The agents who put their lives in danger every day cannot wait”, asserts Jérôme Desorthes. The CGT elected official, however, points to an inflection in the “dogmatic” position of the councilor, who declared in April that he did not want to be a “sheriff mayor”.
“He came directly to meet the agents who explained the merits of their approach. Today, he moved on to the stage: ‘Why not, I’m thinking about it’. It’s already progress but we want to now an answer”, adds Jérôme Desorthes.
Tens of thousands of people are expected until Sunday for the “Bordeaux celebrates wine” event and around 20,000 supporters of the Union Bordeaux-Bègles were expected to follow the Top 14 final against Toulouse on Friday evening in a fan zone.
