Following the urban violence which marked Strasbourg around New Year's Eve, the prefect of Bas-Rhin, Jacques Witkowski, sent a letter to the parents of the young people arrested in order to remind them of their parental obligations and warn them of possible sanctions. “There were 70 to 80 arrests in the Eurometropolis, a significant figure over a week,” he said.
The unrest mainly took place on the night of December 31, although the preceding days also saw incidents including vehicle fires and mortar fire. Faced with the seriousness of the facts, the prefect expressed his concern about the parents' ability to properly exercise their role: “Given the seriousness of the facts in question, I question your ability to fulfill your parental obligations satisfactorily. »
Threats of administrative sanctions
Concerning the foreign parents of the minors arrested, they were summoned to the prefecture. “If they do not go there or do not present conclusive evidence, I plan to re-examine your right to stay on national territory,” warned Jacques Witkowski. As for French parents, they are invited to seek help from social services in the event of educational difficulties, before considering possible similar sanctions.
In his letter, the prefect also recalled the prefectural decree in force on the evening of December 31, prohibiting unaccompanied minors under the age of 16 from being on public roads. “There are minors in the street at 11 p.m. in the evening, with incendiary bottles, fireworks mortars… Parents cannot ignore this. So I wanted to question them strongly: what is your son doing in the street? “, he stressed.
A worrying and recurring phenomenon
This recurring violence during New Year's Eve in Strasbourg worries the local authorities. “We are dealing with habitual delinquents, who burn cars to have fun and party. We all need to think together to try to curb such a phenomenon, to try to move the lines,” insisted the prefect. He also deplored the police resources mobilized every evening in this tense context, while other priorities, such as the security of the Christmas market, require an increased presence of the police.
Find our file on New Year
The prefect, who has already experienced episodes of urban violence during his previous posts in Hérault and Seine-Saint-Denis, however noted “a systemic scale” unusual in Strasbourg. “Also think about the image that Strasbourg conveys: we go from festive Christmas markets to two days later of riots, helmeted police officers, etc. »
