the town of Denain finds itself without an insurer for its buildings, because of a “fear of retaliation”

During the urban riots of June 2023, many municipal buildings in Denain were burned or damaged. Faced with the exorbitant amount of work, the town’s historic insurer preferred to withdraw from the contract, leaving the town without an insurer since January 1, 2024.

For four months, the mayor of Denain has been desperately looking for insurance. Anne-Lise Dufour-Tonini, socialist councilor of this Valenciennois town, knows that this battle is a race against time: since January 1, 2024, the buildings in her town are no longer insured. The slightest outbreak of fire in a municipal building could therefore plunge the City’s economies, already marked by a high rate of poverty among its 20,000 inhabitants.

Until last December, Maif was responsible for managing Denain’s insurance contracts. But following the riots of June 2023, the City’s historic insurer did not wish to re-engage.

On the night of June 29 to 30, the urban violence triggered after the death of Nahel in Nanterre caused severe damage in the streets of Denain. Theater, train station, facade of the town hall and stores were looted, spray painted or even set on fire.

► Also read: Death of Nahel in Nanterre: the heavy toll of urban violence in Denain

Multiple damages to the hefty bill, established at 600,000 euros, which now keeps insurers at bay. The City only paid the excess: 750 euros. However, Anne-Lise Dufour-Tonini tells AFP that “insurers have not spent much on Denain in recent years“, but only in one night, “three-quarters of municipal buildings have been damaged“.

Since then, the town hall has launched two calls for tenders in June and October 2023 to find insurance in 2024. But no company responded.

“When insurance does not have to intervene, there are no worries. On the other hand, as soon as an incident occurs and we need help, the insurance lets us down. I am very disappointed with this attitude of non-engagement in the territories” storms the elected official, who does not mince her words.

As soon as an incident occurs and we need help, the insurance company lets us down. I am very disappointed with this attitude of non-engagement in the territories.

Previously, the town of Denain had never experienced such major incidents. No damage, no theft…”Nothing happens, insurance companies have never had to pay hundreds of thousands of euros until now“, assures Anne-Lise Dufour-Tonini. According to her, insurance companies fear seeing riots or similar events recur. An unjustified fear for the mayor, who points out the exceptionality of the violence of June 2023.

Faced with the distress of the elected officials of Denain, who fear for their city every time a firefighter or police siren sounds, this Monday, the president of the Hauts-de-France Region Xavier Bertrand sent a letter to the Prime Minister , summoning him to interfere in this situation as quickly as possible.

“The State cannot absolve itself from its responsibility and must, with insurers, strengthen its support for local authorities“, summarizes the representative of the Region, pointing to the “multiplication of difficulties in terms of risk coverage“.

The State cannot absolve itself from its responsibility and must, with insurers, strengthen its support for local authorities.

Xavier Bertrand, president of the Hauts-de-France region

Already a week ago, the mayor of Denain, but also the mayor of Maubeuge, spoke with Gabriel Attal in Matignon on these questions. The Prime Minister then assured them that solutions would be found in May, when the conclusions of the government mission working on community insurance would be released. Anne-Lise Dufour-Tonini expects a lot.