Squats and delinquency: the prefect shows firmness

It is a message of rigor and authority that the prefect of Var, surrounded by the public prosecutors of Toulon and Draguignan, delivered during the presentation of the delinquency report for the year 2025. Beyond the overall security figures, a major focus emerged from this past year: the protection of property and the living environment of the Varois. For the authorities, tolerance towards squats and illegal occupations is now a thing of the past.

HUNT FOR SQUATS

The phenomenon of squats, a massive plague for owners and a source of tension in neighborhoods, was the subject of very close attention. Relying on the law of July 27, 2023, designed to protect housing against illegal occupation, the prefect of Var made this matter a “departmental priority.” The figures speak for themselves: while the year 2023 only recorded 4 formal notice orders, the year 2025 confirms the rise in strength of the system with 22 orders issued, a stable figure compared to 2024. Thus, 48 orders have been signed in three years to return properties to their rightful owners. State action is proving all the more effective as it is legally robust. Of the 10 summary appeals filed before the Tribunal administratif to contest these expulsions, 9 were rejected, thereby validating the procedure initiated by the prefecture. This legal solidity allows law enforcement to intervene quickly, putting an end to the feeling of helplessness often felt by victims.

HOUSING AND DRUG TRAFFICKING

The year 2025 marked a legislative turning point with the promulgation of the law of June 13, 2025, aimed at leading France out of the drug trafficking trap. The authorities in Var lost no time in seizing these new tools to clean up public and private housing. The prefect of Var thus sent 14 injunctions to landlords, including one private landlord, demanding the eviction of tenants whose behavior, linked to drug trafficking, seriously harmed the peace of the building or neighborhood. This strategy of administrative harassment against offenders is paired with individual coercive measures: 45 exclusion orders were issued to keep troublemakers away from their usual dealing spots. By hitting traffickers where they live and operate, the State intends to reclaim building lobbies and restore residents' freedom of movement.

COMMERCIAL SPACE UNDER SURVEILLANCE

The fight against illegal occupations does not stop at the doors of housing. The 2025 report shows increased vigilance regarding illegal settlements by Travellers. State services identified 80 illegal settlements in the territory and issued 44 formal notice orders to end them. Finally, cleaning up the local economy is the final part of this offensive. In 2025, 62 establishments were subject to administrative closure, for all reasons combined (fraud, hygiene, safety). Among them, 4 businesses were closed specifically for their involvement in drug trafficking. These actions, carried out jointly by the police nationale, the gendarmerie, and customs, aim to protect the healthy economic fabric and guarantee the safety of Var consumers. With this report, the authorities map out a roadmap for 2026: maintain pressure on all fronts of illegality to guarantee public peace. •