“Perhaps clumsy”: the Paris police chief admits to having made a mistake after his recommendations to traders

“Loss of control”, “humiliation” “confession of helplessness”… The words of the Paris police prefect caused an outcry.

In the wake of the looting and damage to hundreds of stores last weekend in Paris, Patrice Faure invited Parisian traders on Wednesday evening in a letter addressed to them to use security guards to ensure their safety. A letter that Le Figaro was able to consult: “In the coming days, as in many other cities, a reinforced law enforcement system will be deployed. However, it cannot guarantee the protection of each establishment alone,” he indicated in anticipation of the mobilization against the high cost of living this Saturday, October 24 throughout France.

Reactions, coming from all sides of the political spectrum, forced the body responsible for public security in the capital to make a slight change. In a publication on X on October 22, the Paris police chief finally tempered his remarks: “No! The protection of traders and their establishments is the responsibility of the State. We will not shirk our responsibilities.”

After reiterating his support for the traders, the police chief expressed a slight mea-culpa. “The precautionary and dissuasive measures recommended to traders complement this action, without replacing it. These recommendations are an expression of this, perhaps clumsy,” added the senior official who took up his post a year ago to the day.