The French Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, is pleased that far fewer acts of violence and destruction were committed in the country during New Year’s Eve than last year. According to him, this is partly due to a better strategy by the massively deployed police forces.
A total of 90,000 police officers were deployed to our southern neighbors last night and last night. Not only because of the threat of rioters – an unfortunate tradition in France on New Year’s Eve -, but also because of fear of terrorist attacks. Prior to New Year’s Eve, more checks were also carried out, with many fireworks being seized at the border, for example.
40 percent fewer officers injured
According to Darmanin’s figures, 40 percent fewer police officers were injured on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s morning than a year ago. The police are also bombarded with fireworks much less often. According to the minister, no less than 80 percent of this happened less than a year ago.
Fewer cars set on fire again
Across France, 380 people were arrested over New Year’s Eve. There were “few” incidents. The number of cars that went up in flames is 745. That seems like a lot, but it is already 10 percent less than a year ago. And last year there was also a 20 percent decrease in the number of vehicle fires compared to the year before.
New Year’s Eve is always closely watched in France. The party has been hijacked many times in recent years by rioters and vandals, resulting in hallucinatory and harrowing scenes. But it seems to be improving. Nearly 500 people were arrested across the country on New Year’s Eve in France last year, but no “notable incidents” were recorded then either.
Car fires during New Year’s Eve have been a major problem in France since the early 1990s.
Gérald DARMANIN
@GDarmanin
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