Philippe Mahé, préfet: "The mobilization of the police on the ground is bearing fruit"

34 new police officers have just been posted to the Var, bringing the workforce to 1,547 personnel. Since 2017, staffing levels in both police and gendarmerie zones have been steadily increasing in the department.

FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS

"An additional 104 personnel joined the Police nationale between 2017 and 2024. This translates into a greater presence of police officers on the ground. Thus, during the first 8 months of the year, there were 3,687 hours of mountain bike patrols in 2024 compared to 2,350 in 2023 (+ 56.92%), 7,399 hours of road checks in 2024 compared to 6,562 in 2023 (+ 12.74%), and 1,548 hours of patrols in stations compared to 964 in 2023 (+ 60.49%)," detailed the préfet. For the representative of the State, the priority objectives of the fight against delinquency in the police zone remain identical to the roadmap set by the Minister of the Interior: "The figures for the fight against delinquency in the police zone over the first 8 months of the year 2024 (compared to the first 8 months of 2023) show that the mobilization and presence of police officers on the ground are not weakening and are bearing fruit. Thus, 234 drug networks were dismantled compared to 188 in 2023 (+ 24.5%), 1,317 fixed fine penalties (AFD) were issued compared to 1,326 in 2023, and 541 operations were carried out on dealing points compared to 528 in 2023 (+ 2.5%)." "Faced with the multiplication of these operations, traffickers tend to develop the concept of home delivery of narcotics, known as "Uber shit", but investigators' methods are diversifying to track dealers in cyberspace. Consequently, the number of fixed fines (AFD) for illegal occupation of common areas is on the rise (+4%)," added the interdepartmental director of the Police nationale.

VIOLENCE ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Furthermore, 99 incidents were recorded in 2024 compared to 101 in 2023 (-2%) on public transport. The mobilization of personnel on the ground has made it possible to contain the number of acts of violence against individuals on public transport, which had already seen a drop of nearly 10% in 2023. Another point of satisfaction for the préfet of the Var: "Public highway delinquency is down across all the districts of the Police nationale in the department (-8.6%), falling from 7,878 recorded incidents to 7,197. This decrease is particularly noticeable in the West district (Sanary-sur-Mer, Six-Fours-les-Plages, La Seyne-sur-Mer, Ollioules, Bandol, Hyères, Le Pradet, Carqueiranne, Le Revest-les-Eaux, La Valette-du-Var, and Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer) with -10.25% and -11.85% in Toulon. The East district (Draguignan, Trans-en-Provence, Fréjus, Saint-Raphaël) also recorded a decrease of -2.7%. Regarding robberies, 329 incidents "were" recorded in 2024 compared to 414 in 2023 (-20.5%). Robberies continue to decline in the department and in Toulon in particular, with a drop of over 20% as well. "And for vehicle-related thefts, indicators are also in the green with notable drops in recorded incidents, proof of in-depth work and an increased police presence. This mobilization continues, in conjunction with local authorities (development of video surveillance) and municipal police forces. In terms of figures, 877 incidents were recorded in 2024 compared to 995 for 2023 (-11.9%), including 388 vehicle thefts compared to 440 last year (-11.8%) and 489 thefts of two-wheelers in 2024 compared to 555 in 2023 (-11.9%). The number of proceedings for urban rodeos remains stable, with 17 in 2024 compared to 18 the previous year," the police chief further observed.

BURGLARIES DOWN

He added: "With regard to burglaries, they are down in primary and secondary residences, although there are strong disparities depending on the sector. By way of example, we see a decrease in Toulon (-12%) with 629 incidents in 2024 compared to 715 in 2023, in La Seyne-sur-Mer (-18%) with 96 incidents in 2024 compared to 117 in 2023, in Sanary-sur-Mer (-10%) with 211 incidents in 2024 compared to 235 in 2023, and in Fréjus (-8%) with 275 incidents in 2024 compared to 299 in 2023." "Finally, regarding the fight against domestic violence, the number of victims is not weakening (+19.35%), meaning 2,436 victims in 2024 compared to 2,041 in 2023. This increase is explained by incentives to file complaints, the freeing of speech, and the systematic collection of complaints by police services for this type of offense. Mobilization remains essential for the teams on the ground, with lengthy procedures for the investigation services because the investigations are very thorough. It is observed that alcohol plays an important role in the offenders' actions. The placement of social workers within police stations, the work conducted in the fight against addictions, and the development of family protection brigades are all responses provided, in connection with partners (particularly the Conseil départemental, municipalities, and the Caisse d'allocations familiales) to combat and prevent the development of domestic violence," welcomed Philippe Mahé.