2023-08-01 21:40:00
DISPATCH – The League for Human Rights (LDH), residents and associations fighting against poor housing demanded today the suspension of the “anti-parking” decree of Angoulême. The applicants believe that the text is aimed at “the marginalized” and constitutes “an attack on the freedom to come and go”.
On July 11, the LR town hall of Angoulême published a decree against “the abusive occupation of public spaces”. The text prohibits “seated or lying down when it constitutes an obstacle to the movement of pedestrians and access to buildings bordering public roads”, as well as standing “when it clearly hinders the movement of people, the ease of passage, safety in public roads and spaces”.
The LDH denounces “an attack on the freedom to come and go”. Me Marion Ogier underlines that the text essentially targets “people whose makeshift home is the street.” “Nocturnal noise, public drunkenness, aggressive begging… all these offenses are already provided for in the Penal Code. And in the documents in the file, we are systematically told about security. However, only the prefect is competent” in the matter, points out the lawyer, for whom the text has “just the purpose of getting rid of a population that society considers inconvenient”.
The assistant for prevention and public security of Angoulême, Jean-Philippe Pousset, assures that the text is not an “anti-begging” decree, nor “anti-homeless”. “It is only a tool to find a peaceful management of public space”, which “concerns only 6% of the surface of the city”, he says.
As AFP reports, the elected official points to “nearly 400 handrails” filed with the municipal police for three years, and asserts the support of traders. To go in its direction, the lawyer of the City, Me Alexandra Aderno, insisted on the “anxiogenic climate” and “the exponential increase of the troubles” in the city center.
The judge in chambers will render her decision on Monday before an appeal on the merits.
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