Question 1 — font

Summary

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BERGERAC POLICE STATION Mr. President. The floor is given to Ms. Brigitte Allain, to present her question, No. 1, relating to the reconstruction of the Bergerac police station. Ms. Brigitte Allain. Monsieur the Minister of the Interior, police officers carry out public service missions of the highest importance throughout the territory. They ensure the safety of citizens, must listen to victims, carry out actions of prevention. They are in direct contact with the population and thus represent an essential local service. With my question, I wish to alert you to the improbable and particular situation at the Bergerac police station. This establishment, which I visited a few weeks ago, is in a general state of unsanitary and unsafe conditions. The ceiling of one of the buildings collapsed, and it has been several months held with props. The police custody cells are unworthy of a respectful reception of people. There are no spaces of discretion necessary for the work of doctors and lawyers and the confidential reception of victims. They are too often confronted with their attacker, especially since the majority of complaints are of a family and/or private nature: battered women, sexual harassment. This week we are protesting against violence against women. But how can you file a complaint in such a context, when confidentiality cannot even be ensured? The general review of public policies has led to a very significant reorganization and a reduction in staff numbers, but it must not be synonymous with a deterioration of public services. What respect is shown to police officers who work in such conditions? A site for a new police station was acquired by the Ministry of the Interior. The plans have even been finalized. A major trades high school project in the Aquitaine region will finally see the light of day in Bergerac, on the site of the old barracks, therefore all around this police station from another century. Mr. Minister, what is the relevance of initiating repair work on an obsolete establishment, when the urgency of a new building and the moving of the police station to a more appropriate place is felt by all our fellow citizens? Mr. President. The floor is given to the Minister of the Interior. Mr. Manuel Valls, Minister of the Interior. Madam Deputy, I will answer you as frankly as possible. Extracting myself from my notes, I want to tell you that I understand your dismay at the state of this police station, unworthy of the work of police officers and the expectations of citizens. I especially understand your requirement. The total cost of a new police station, including works and furniture, has been estimated at around 3.7 million euros. It is true that, given the budgetary difficulties we are experiencing, we have decided to allocate 140,000 euros in order to carry out, for obvious reasons, various works at the beginning of 2013. I suggest that we meet again very quickly to try to meet the needs of the inhabitants of Bergerac, to improve the working conditions of police officers and to ensure that the projects attached to this site - whether the high school and its gymnasium, projects carried out by the region, or the police station - can find an outlet. I want to draw your attention to the fact that we cannot at the same time say that we must preserve our public finances, find savings and respond to all demands. But I suggest to you that we quickly found ourselves at the Ministry of the Interior to try to move forward on this issue. Mr. President. The floor is given to Ms. Brigitte Allain. Mme Brigitte Allain. Monsieur the Minister, I thank you for this proposal. It is important that we carry out this reflection together, especially since the future high school, which will be a showcase for both training and eco-construction, could be deprived of a gymnasium - which should be located on the site of the current police station. He It is important to think about the message we are sending to our fellow citizens, in particular to young people in training, by maintaining a dilapidated police station, backed by a new trades high school. I wonder: how can police officers who do not feel respected properly carry out their function of maintaining security?

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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