Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin asked the prefects to strengthen measures to fight against urban rodeos, more numerous since the return of sunny days and after several “incidents”, his entourage said on Saturday.
In a note dated Friday and sent to the media, the minister asks the prefects to “resume the necessary measures without delay” to fight against “motorized urban rodeos” which “seriously alter the lives of the inhabitants”.
“Systematic entry of used gear”
The phenomenon is on the rise with the “return of favorable weather” and “incidents” linked to rodeos have taken place since the weekend of April 1, adds the minister, without detailing.
The prefects must in particular “conduct coordinated control operations in the most exposed sectors and axes” and “proceed with the systematic seizure of the machines used”.
350 arrests since March 1
These operations could be carried out in conjunction with the municipal police “for a massive occupation of the territory”, adds Gérald Darmanin, asking “to optimize the use” of video surveillance “to guide the action of the staff on the ground and allow identification of authors.
Since March 1, 6,900 operations to fight against rodeos have taken place, with 38,000 checks, 350 arrests, nearly 7,000 verbalizations and more than 100 seized two-wheelers, welcomes the minister.
Last year more than 4,500 devices were seized by police and gendarmes, according to Gérald Darmanin.