This village in Seine-et-Marne strengthens the safety of residents with a new system

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It is the turn of Isles-lès-Villenoy to join the Citizen participation. Saturday, November 30, 2024 in the morning, the gendarmerie invited the inhabitants of the village to a public meeting to discover this system in order to put it in place.

The concept is simple. Through a WhatsApp group, referents share a certain number informationphotos or videos relating to the security of the municipality. Citizen participation is a solidarity approach so that the inhabitants of Isles-lès-Villenoy can prevent possible problems concerning the security of the community.

A promising success for the municipality

In 2019, a circular from the Ministry of the Interior demonstrated a reduction from 40% to 25% in property damage in the municipalities thanks to Citizen Participation. Last year, the Esbly gendarmerie was responsible for six municipalities using this system while today, Isles-lès-Villenoy is the twelfth municipality to subscribe to it. The program is a real success and good results.

A van has been sitting idle for a few days, you have been approached for the sale of calendars, you have witnessed illegal dumping of rubbish… All you have to do is report the problem in real time on the group as a referent. The gendarmerie assesses the seriousness of the subject, makes some checks and send a patrol if necessary.

Ensuring security does not mean monitor your neighborhood. Referents have no greater prerogatives or capacity to intervene on individuals. You should also not filter the information. The police are present to respond and assess the importance of the problem.

To become a referent, you must be major and don't have no history judicial. There is no no limit to the number of referents, the aim being to cover the entire municipality. If a referent no longer wants to carry out his function, he simply needs to leave the group. “We don’t have big responsibilities,” explains Séverine, who signed up directly as a referent.

A legacy of Vigilant Neighbors

Imported in 2006 by the British, Citizen Participation is tested by the national gendarmerie in several municipalities of Seine-et-Marne. If the concept is familiar, it is because it was formerly called Vigilant neighbors. After no label was filed by the gendarmerie, the Voisins Vigilants program was bought by a private company which makes town halls pay nearly €6,000 to benefit from the label and the program.

The gendarmerie therefore created Citizen Participation, so that all municipalities can benefit from it. for free. According to the wishes of the mayor of Isles-lès-Villenoy, Frédéric Hervier, panels labeled Citizen Participation can be installed at the entrance to the municipality to warn possible criminals.

Citizen Participation has already attracted several residents like Karine who “thinks it’s a good initiative”. To become a referent, simply go to the town hall or the Esbly gendarmerieand fill out a form. The WhatsApp group should be created at mid-Decembertime to gather all the references.

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