For the moment, the municipal police force is mainly concentrated on the Christmas markets, where the bulk of the crowds are these days. “Especially on the 24th, when people take the opportunity to make their last minute purchases”analyzes Hervé Niel, deputy mayor of Metz responsible for security. He is in particular responsible for coordinating the action of the municipal police and must ensure that everything goes well on the ground. Then, from 3 p.m., the staff is reinforced to prepare for the evening.
When evening comes, there will be around twenty of them, spread throughout the city, to be ready to react in the event of a problem. They are now supported by their colleagues from the urban supervision center, which centralizes alerts, inaugurated just a year ago. Hervé Niel will be on duty from home, his phone never far away, ready to react “in case of emergency”. But Christmas is an evening “quite calm”in comparison to New Year's Eve during which the mobilized workforce reaches around thirty agents, confides the elected official. He also adds that “contrary to what some people try to believe, Metz is a city where the crime rate is relatively low”. This is evidenced by his experience, particularly in Nîmes where he comes from. “There, when you were called, there was a good chance that it was for a death…”
Philosophy of life
He still knew “a few rock’n’roll nights”when he was in service [Hervé Niel a été directeur départemental de la sécurité publique]. “Especially when I was officiating in Strasbourg. At the time, some people were playing the great game of who could burn the most cars. I have sometimes left family meals to intervene. With any luck, I was home for dessert. » A trend that has since subsided, “when we stopped broadcasting the prize list”.
He admits that his New Years Eves are less eventful since he retired. “Today the phone no longer rings only for bad news. Sometimes it's simply a friend wishing you a happy New Year and it's true that these calls are a pleasure. » At home, his loved ones are used to it and know that he can be absent if the need arises. “We are always a little tense when we receive a first alert. We hope the phone doesn't ring. » Even if his role requires great availability, he prefers to see the glass half full. “It’s a philosophy of life. I am not to be pitied. This is the profession [policier] where the most divorces are recorded but, for my part, I have been married for 46 years! »
