High school demonstrations: law enforcement invited to intervene with “agility and responsiveness” in the event of disturbances

While Tuesday's high school demonstrations are high risk, the Minister of the Interior asked the police on Monday for "great agility and responsiveness, in order to intervene without delay if unrest should break out." In a telegram addressed to the bosses of the police and the gendarmerie and brought to the attention of Le Figaro, Laurent Nuñez recalls that “the declared and organized nature of these demonstrations as well as the presence of security services planned by the organizers will lead you to favor the establishment of an appropriate law enforcement system, namely little contact with the demonstrators and discreet as much as possible”. A “classic” posture put in place during national days of action supervised by the unions.

According to our information, some 500 actions and around fifty blockages have been recorded since Tuesday morning. While the first processions were launched, around ten situations of urban violence were observed, including mortar fire in Saint-Cyr-l'École, damage around the Strasbourg tramway and even police officers targeted by around twenty thugs wearing balaclavas in Châteauroux.

“The high school protest movement has gained in intensity and now extends to the entire national territory” observes the minister who describes: “In addition to actions to block establishments, several gatherings gave rise to urban violence, with damage to buildings, fires, fireworks and attempted intrusions as well as violent clashes.”

In order to “prevent disturbances to public order”, Laurent Nuñez asks in his note “to pay particular attention to the establishment of a permanent communication system with the organizers through the designation of a person responsible for the “information liaison” maneuver in charge of this mediation throughout the gathering, in accordance with the national plan for maintaining order (SNMO)”. “These teams must be visible and accessible throughout the demonstration to maintain dialogue, explain the maneuvers of the internal security forces and defuse tensions, counter rumors and fake news, etc.,” the Minister of the Interior further specifies.

“Jean-Luc Mélenchon is talking nonsense when he claims that I would have given instructions to repress the high school students,” also assured the host from Beauvau. “The instructions are constant,” he insists before adding: “the internal security forces are first and foremost there to preserve and ensure the safety of high school students, establishment staff and all those who want to peacefully express their demands.” Police officers and gendarmes “intervene when there is violence, damage or attacks on people and property, with firmness but also with proportionality and under the control of their hierarchy and, where appropriate, of the justice system”, declares Laurent Nuñez, insisting that “this is indeed the doctrine publicly recalled in recent days”.

A final report reported “ten IGPN investigations currently open in the context of high school mobilizations”. Furthermore, 984 arrests were made Monday evening, for a total of around 6,059 since September 28. 65 law enforcement officers were injured on Monday, for a total of 715 in the ranks of the police and gendarmerie.