A new police unit equipped with firearms in Bordeaux
Following the latest crime statistics released for Bordeaux, the ecologist mayor Pierre Hurmic announced the creation of a new municipal police unit armed with pistols, inspired by the model of the English Bobbies, set to launch in mid-2025. This unit will consist of around fifty municipal police officers (that’s 1/4 of the total agents) who will operate in specific areas of the city during the day, like the neighborhoods of Capucins, Marne, Gintrac, Saint-Jean, and Victor-Hugo, and will be able to deploy throughout Bordeaux in the evenings. These officers will be equipped with vehicles that allow for quick interventions across the city.
This change comes after several months of pressure, especially following a strike by municipal police at the end of June, who were demanding lethal weapons. Pierre Hurmic, who had long opposed arming the municipal police, explained that the increased circulation of firearms in society now justified this measure. « I am now convinced that..."Listen to my municipal police, and it led me to make a thoughtful and responsible decision," he stated. However, he emphasizes that this armed brigade is just one part of a larger response aimed at improving overall safety in the city.
Increasing staff and enhancing video protection
The mayor also specifies that a new organization will be established for all municipal police officers. Bordeaux will be divided into 5 geographic sectors, and police officers will be assigned to one of these sectors daily, with a preference for mobility on foot or by bike, to promote true community policing. Pierre Hurmic believes that the issue of security should not be limited to arming municipal police officers but should be approached from a broader and more pragmatic perspective.
Several measures have been taken, including the creation of positions for municipal police officers and mediators that have increased..te; by 35% (with the goal of reaching 210 agents as quickly as possible), the strengthening of the video surveillance system with an urban supervision center and the assignment of a permanent CRS company in Bordeaux requested from the Minister of the Interior.
Crime on the Rise
Pierre Hurmic also reminded us that Bordeaux, like many large cities, is not exempt from the increasing violence in society. Between 2016 and 2019, crimes and offenses grew by 24.3% per year, with a slowdown since 2021 (+9.9% per year). The mayor, however, aims to reassure everyone by highlighting the efforts made to improve safety and maintain public tranquility in the city.
