Security and crime prevention, the ambitious goals of the Contrat de ville

CRIME PREVENTION A national and local land planning policy for urban social cohesion and solidarity, the politique de la ville aims to reduce development gaps within cities. "Its objective is to restore republican equality in the neighbourhoods and to improve the living conditions of their inhabitants, who face higher unemployment and school dropout rates than elsewhere, as well as difficulties in accessing services and healthcare. The new contractualisation of the politique de la ville, 'engagements quartiers 2030', constitutes the framework for deploying strategies to address the challenges identified at the scale of each territory," recalled Philippe Mahé, préfet du Var.

The representative of the State added: "Unlike former contracts, it updates the priority geography and identifies pockets of poverty to adapt actions as closely as possible to the needs of the territory. Thus, the Contrat de ville is kept active throughout its lifespan thanks to enhanced citizen participation. It establishes priorities by neighbourhood to ensure public peace and security, notably with the establishment of an enhanced partnership, actions for crime prevention, and tackling school dropout rates."

Furthermore, the safety of people and property is a priority, including in the quartiers de la politique de la ville (QPV) where 'place nette' operations and local business control operations are conducted. Likewise, the convention for strengthening security, peace, and crime prevention in social housing within the jurisdictions of the Toulon and Draguignan judicial courts and inter-landlords aims to guarantee the peace and security of residents, social landlord staff, but also private third parties and institutional operators present in their QPV territories. It was signed on December 18, 2023.

The préfet insisted: "The new contract aims for empowerment for all through the promotion of education by actions in support of parenting. Notably, access to employment for inhabitants of priority neighbourhoods, but also the ecological and energy transition. To achieve this, we must better coordinate common law funds and other schemes (programme de réussite éducative, cités éducatives, fonds interministériel de prévention de la délinquance, exemption from property tax on built properties with social landlords)."

To date, the Contrat de ville concerns the Val des Rougières neighbourhood and the historic centre, which together account for more than 4,000 inhabitants, or nearly 7.5% of the municipality's population. Under the 2015-2023 contract, the State allocated nearly €2.9 million in exceptional funding and will continue to provide its commitment and financial support. "This Contrat de ville Quartiers 2030 was built on the basis of active resident participation and shared perspectives between community associations, local operators, and public institutions," concludes, with a healthy dose of optimism, the representative of the State.

Le préfet a insisté : « Le nouveau contrat vise à l’émancipation pour tous à travers la promotion de l’éducation par des actions en faveur de la parentalité. Notamment l’accès à l’emploi pour les habitants des quartiers prioritaires, mais aussi la transition écologique et énergétique. Pour cela, il faut mieux articuler les crédits de droit commun et les autres dispositifs (programme de réussite éducative, cités éducatives, fonds interministériel de prévention de la délinquance, exonération de la taxe foncière sur les propriétés bâties avec les bailleurs sociaux) ». À ce jour, le Contrat de ville concerne le quartier des Val des Rougières et le centre ancien qui comptabilisent à eux deux plus de 4 000 habitants, soit près de 7,5 % de la population de la commune. Dans le cadre du contrat 2015- 2023, l’État a alloué près de 2,9 millions d’€ de crédits exceptionnels et continuera d’apporter son engagement et son soutien financier. « Ce Contrat de ville Quartiers 2030 s’est construit sur la base d’une participation active des habitants et des regards croisés entre les acteurs associatifs, les opérateurs locaux et les institutions publiques », conclut, avec une bonne dose d'optimisme, le représentant de l'Etat.