It was in a neighborhood of Maurepas under high surveillance, patrolled by CRS 82 and dozens of police officers that Bruno Retailleau, Minister of the Interior, arrived in Rennes this Friday, November 1. His arrival took place at the Gros Chêne metro station, under the gaze of a handful of residents at their windows.
After several minutes of discussion around the fight against drug trafficking with Clémence Mermet-Grenot, zonal director of the West and the newly appointed prefect Amaury de Saint-Quentin, Bruno Retailleau spoke for long minutes with officials associations in the premises of the Marbaudais associative center where the press was not invited.
“For the safety of our young people”
Upon his exit, still highly supervised by his bodyguards, the minister was preparing to leave the neighborhood without having spoken with the residents. It was without counting on Sylvie and Nathalie. These two women who have lived in the neighborhood for years went down the few floors of their building to speak to the press and the minister.
“I went out one morning, it was 11 a.m., I saw people running with machetes in their hands,” explains Sylvie. “One evening, I was making food in my kitchen. I heard a machine gun burst. Two people were killed nearby. Something has to be done, it's urgent. We are afraid.”
Visit to the police station
At her side, Nathalie asks the minister to act: “I think we need to put local police officers back in the neighborhoods that are a little hot. It can have its effect. If we have to be asked for our identity papers on every street corner, I am ready for that, for the safety of our young people. »
After a discussion of a few minutes with these residents, the minister went to the central police station to speak with police officers. He then ended his visit to the Ille-et-Vilaine prefecture with a meeting with local elected officials.
