Why are there so many gendarmerie checks this Thursday afternoon throughout the Ardennes?

« 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. »

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. »