Lors d’une opération Place nette dans le quartier Saint-Martin, à Montpellier. Midi Libre – JEAN MICHEL MART
Le préfet de l'Hérault, François-Xavier Lauch, a dressé le bilan de la délinquance pour l'année 2024, ce vendredi, en préfecture. Les résultats sont plutôt positifs, même si certains chiffres inquiètent.
It was an avalanche of figures that the prefect of Hérault, François-Xavier Lauch, communicated this Friday, on the occasion of the 2024 report on delinquency in the department. In the halls of the prefecture, he was surrounded by the prosecutors of Montpellier and Béziers, Fabrice Belargent and Raphaël Balland, as well as the director of the national police of Hérault, Benoît Desmartin, and the commander of the Hérault gendarmerie group, Thomas Deprecq.
“Delinquency is relatively stable, even if domestic violence, burglaries and car thefts are on the rise”, declared the prefect in his introduction. “It is more marked in Montpellier and Béziers than in Sète and Agde.”
Fight against narcotics
“Trafficking is taking on a worrying proportion, notes François-Xavier Lauch. The staff are instructed to harass the 51 drug dealing points identified in Hérault every day. 433 dismantling operations were carried out in 2024 (+14.5%).”
In total, “more than four tons of narcotics and nearly 5.5 tons of tobacco were intercepted”. It is mainly the seizures of criminal assets that are exploding, since they have increased from €5 million in 2020 to nearly €14 million in 2024.
A busy agenda in 2025
“The presence on the ground has increased (+1.6%) but we want it to be more targeted, in order to respond to the priorities: the fight against drug and tobacco trafficking”, announces the prefect. "The focus will also be on the fight against fraud".
This year, the implementation of the Plan to restore daily security and the new plan to combat narcotics will also be priorities.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000Concerning domestic violence, "we will need to find more housing for women who have to move out", the prefect recalls. A Women's House will open in Béziers.
Unmarked cars on the roads
Other priorities: “the fight against separatism and illegal immigration”. “We also want to fight against the crimes that drive people crazy: the installation of travelers, squats, rave parties”.
In terms of road safety, unmarked cars will make their appearance. Instructions have also been given to hunt down drunk or drug-impaired drivers.
In Montpellier, this year will finally be marked by the inauguration of the police stations at the train station and La Mosson. "In Béziers, the future Administrative Detention Center is on track, while waiting for the rehabilitation of the police station."
Everyday Security
The “clean place” operations, launched in 2023, expanded last year, increasing from 3 to 11. 4,000 police officers and gendarmes checked 14,000 people, 9,350 vehicles and 184 businesses. More than a fifth of the drugs seized in 2024 in the department were seized during these 11 operations.
Domestic violence
While they continue to increase, their rise is still slowing down: +2.5% for intentional assault and battery, +9.8% for attacks on minors. Except for feminicides or attempted feminicides, which increased from 7 to 13 in one year: + 85.7%!
The number of anti-rapprochement bracelets (40) and serious danger telephones (135) allocated is increasing.
Transport, immigration, squats…
Transport delinquency
This is one of the satisfactions of the year. Violence against people has fallen by almost a third on public transport, with 256 incidents compared to 377.
Irregular immigration
“Priority is given to the fight against foreigners who cause trouble”, the prefect emphasizes. 355 people in an irregular situation have been removed (+ 47.9 %). Withdrawals (23) or damage (35) of residence permits are increasing even more sharply
Illegal occupations
58 squats were evicted compared to 8 in 2023. Illegal settlements by travellers have almost halved (52 instead of 98) and rave parties almost by three (17 compared to 47).
Road safety
After a bad 2023 at all levels, 2024 was more mixed. The number of deaths certainly fell from 71 to 57 (-20%), but injuries (1,006) and accidents (798) are both up 21%. It is mainly motorcycles and scooters (+ 20 and + 100 % of injuries) that are causing concern.
Summer security
After a complicated year in 2024, due to the security force reinforcements sent to the Olympic Games in the middle of the tourist season, "the summer security system will be presented to mayors in April". The passage of the Tour de France will be one of the highlights of the summer, marked by the return of CRS lifeguards and mobile force units.
Thefts and burglaries
While violent thefts are down sharply (-11%) – after a significant increase in 2023 (+23.1%) – burglaries are up (+6.4%), particularly in primary residences. However, car thefts (-4.2%) and those involving bicycles and scooters (-11.7%) are down.
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