Friday, November 22, at the Lacotel in Soorts-Hossegor, a debate evening took place with the theme: Improve security in our communities.
This encounter public organized by Côte Sud Avenir represented by Olivier Bégué, lawyer, was moderated by Serge Mackowiak, former investigating judge, prosecutor, municipal councilor of Capbreton and honorary attorney general. This meeting brought together more than 80 people.
The three municipalities of Capbreton, Seignosse and Hossegor have among the highest rates of non-violent theft in the Landes department.
Based on figures from the Ministry of the Interior, Olivier Bégué presented the graphics showing delinquency data in Capbreton, Seignosse and Soorts-Hossegor.
Six types of delinquency were chosen: non-violent theft against people, willful destruction and damage, theft from vehicles, burglaries, and willful assault and battery. These types of delinquency are the most frequent in these municipalities, with a marked evolution in Capbreton, where, according to figures from the municipal police, the curves of thefts and burglaries have increased in recent years, since 2020.
In Capbreton, 93 burglaries were recorded in 2023 compared to 47 in 2020; 144 vehicle-related thefts in 2023 compared to 68 in 2020, 178 non-violent thefts against people, and 52 residential burglaries in 2023.
In Soorts-Hossegor, non-violent thefts against people are slightly decreasing, while other types of delinquency remain relatively stable. For Seignosse, the trend is rather downward until 2020, but it has been slightly upward since then, with 15 burglaries and 106 non-violent thefts in 2023.
What can and should a mayor do?
Above all, create an employment doctrine for the municipal police and provide guidelines. The municipal police are the mayor's police. He is the boss and therefore he must be clear, precise, clear on legible directions.
Serge Mackowiak recalled the powers of a mayor, those which consist of participating in public order and can act without the opinion of the municipal council, except for video protection which must be strengthened according to this elected official; a function that he exercises under the authority of the prefect, this general police power aims to ensure public order, which includes security, health and public tranquility.
Municipal councilor Serge Mackowiak emphasizes that it is important to note that the mayor cannot delegate this power. The mayor collaborates with the security forces and the prosecutor in consultation bodies with the State.
In fact, a mayor is also a judicial police officer, he can issue fines. He can also, at the request of the prosecutor and an investigating judge, carry out personality and social investigations in the context of major cases.
By the law of March 5, 2007, “the mayor can practically replace a judge”, he can do what is called “call to order”: summon a person with their parents if they are minors, summon them a warning for damage, alcohol consumption, school absenteeism, noise pollution, etc. The mayor also has the possibility of making a transaction: “You have damaged, it doesn't matter, you will repair it or carry out 30 hours of unpaid work…No need to go through a judge, a rapid, effective, concrete, local response system” recalls Serge Mackowiak, former Dax prosecutor and municipal elected official.
The seasonal problem
Serge Mackowiak also warns of this problem with, for example, the town of Capbreton with its 9,500 inhabitants. This is populated by 40,000 inhabitants on weekends and in the summer, and estimates that it will probably be necessary to study redeployment within municipal staff and reinforcement of national staff.
There is also a possibility to study: that of tools to improve security, such as the pooling of municipal police forces, particularly on weekends, in the form of an agreement with the opinion of citizens, video protection and emergency call devices. emergency to the municipal police.
Finally, it was proposed the importance of relaunching the Intercommunal Security and Delinquency Prevention Council to promote dialogue between elected officials and law enforcement, merchants' associations, parents, firefighters, etc. Communication is essential to inform the population about real delinquency and the measures taken.
Avenues of reflection have been launched to improve security in the territory with constructive exchanges between elected officials, experts and residents to strengthen public tranquility in the municipalities, in order to adapt this improvement to local realities.
SM
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