You may have seen them patrolling your stairwell. From October 20, 2023 around twentycalming agents monitors the daily safety of residents of around thirty social residences in Montpellier and the metropolis for social landlords ACM Habitat, CDC Habitat, FDI Habitat, Erilia and SFHE. These agents are now entitled to a fine in three cities in France: in Paris, Toulouse and Montpellier from the end of March 2024. France Bleu Hérault followed them this Wednesday, April 10, in the Lemasson district of Montpellier.
Bulletproof vest on the front at the back an anti-squat operation in the Lemasson district of Montpellier. “Open ma’am it’s residential security” thunders the agent, banging on the door. Residence security are agents called in by social landlords to secure residences. They have been patrolling the metropolis for five months, and for Gary (not his real name), the leader of the group, it’s more of an achievement: “The tenants are quite happy with our presence, declares. Some contact us to share their opinion and most are quite happy with our interventions.”
More than 80 anti-drug operations
Since October, more than 80 anti-drug operations, but also deterrent measures for limit the damage in so-called sensitive neighborhoods. “It’s really become a hell of a neighborhood, it’s a shame regrets Nadia, 37 years old. It’s good that these agents are coming to patrol, but on the other hand, it means that we are insecure. Maybe they should iron a little more. First, to calm things down and subsequently, even if there is an improvement. But if you ask me if there has been an improvement between October and now, the answer is no.”
Around twenty additional peace officers will be recruited in Montpellier by the end of 2024. Steve Lefebvre, CEO of GSRI (Inter-landlord Residential Security Group) is particularly concerned about drug dealing in the following residences: “What we could observe was indeed narcotics stored in the technical pipes of the landlords. When we saw this, we called the national police, who then came and seized this drug. This has happened often since we intervened, and it is quite disturbing.” because we find cake wrappers, Haribo candies, what scares me about all this is the kids hanging around the stairs who believe the packages are candy, even though it would be a disaster.
Léonie Cornet