Without excessive effusion, the prefect of Haute-Loire, Yvan Cordier, drew up an overall very positive 2024 assessment for the Haute-Loire gendarmerie group. On the occasion of the Sainte-Geneviève celebration ceremonies, which were held on Monday in Brioude, he indeed communicated several key data.
More than 50% of facts and offenses have been resolved
“This highlight allows us to express to all active and reservist soldiers all our feelings of gratitude,” recalled Yvan Cordier in the introduction to his speech. In a quick assessment of the past year, he highlighted a drop in general delinquency of 6% in 2024 for the gendarmerie zone. “And it is 8% for the department as a whole, adding the police zone,” he added aside. In the register of satisfaction, he also noted that more than 50% of the facts and offenses had been resolved. Concerning the fight against narcotics, the prefect wished to underline the success of the “clear place” operations. Carried out last May in Brioude and Yssingeaux, they led to 27 arrests in connection with drug trafficking.
Yvan Cordier also did not fail to return to road safety data: “We recorded 11 deaths on the roads of Haute-Loire in 2024, including 10 in the gendarmerie zone. In 2023, there were 18. We owe this improvement to your actions,” he told the gendarmes present. And he added that the number of license cancellations was increasing: 835 in 2024, or 36 more than the previous year.
Sixty outrages against the military
For his part, Colonel Christophe Marboutin, commander of the group, specified that 60 soldiers had been the subject of insults, threats or attacks last year. “In the midst of the worst, you often embody the best, thanks to the strength of your oath and your selfless commitment,” he insisted before specifying how proud he was of the Haute-Loire gendarmes. The colonel also looked back on some notable events of the year, including “the management of public order for the farmers' demonstrations in January” or “the 77 active and reserve soldiers who participated in the securing the Olympic Games and then the Paralympic Games “…
Colonel and prefect also discussed the prospects for 2025. In addition to the launch of the construction of the new Brioude gendarmerie, the State representative highlighted the departmental action plan for restoring daily security which he must transmit to the Minister of the Interior this Wednesday, January 15. A plan which will have three priorities: adapting to delinquency in Haute-Loire, which is low, but itinerant and sometimes imported; use new IT tools and disseminate the culture of security among the population.
-We have a very good deployment of video protection, but we need to make progress on vigilant neighbors.
In this regard, the prefect had a word for the security shield carried by the Region: “We will continue to deploy it. And we should perhaps think about an identical system in the west.”
Other “net square” operations to come
In 2025, the fight against drugs once again promises to be an important mission for the gendarmerie. “There will be other net operations,” confided Yvan Cordier. The creation of the Saint-Just-Malmont gendarmerie brigade also found its place in the various speeches. Reminding that in the long term, it should have ten soldiers, Colonel Marboutin confided: “We are waiting for the vote on the 2025 budget, to know the timing given by the Ministry of the Interior, to know if this will be done in 2025 or later late. “
Pierre Hébrard
