While crime figures are falling in Bédarieux, crack consumption is on the rise and is worrying the authorities.

Le bilan de l'activité de l'année 2024 présentée aux élus. JPA – Midi Libre

This year 2024 has been rather good in terms of activity and results in the territory of the Bédarieux gendarmerie brigade community. A concern, however, for the judicial authorities, the increase in crack consumption which is considered a scourge.

Major Daniel Rosa, commander of the Bédarieux gendarmerie brigade community (Cob), presented to the elected officials of the Grand Orb the situation of delinquency and the activity of the military in the brigade's jurisdiction (27 municipalities). “The main issues on our territory are the fight against burglaries, the fight against drug trafficking, separatism and radicalization, domestic violence and banned musical events.”
For the 23 soldiers who make up the Bédarieux Cob, the task is arduous and the activity intense. So much so that resources from the Béziers company are often engaged in various operations.

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Fewer thefts and burglaries

It must be said that this territory of 600 km2 concentrates a third of the activity of the entire Béziers company. If there were more incidents in 2024 (1,147) than in 2023 (1,097), the number of burglaries is down sharply, as well as car thefts. There is also a 23% drop in intentional violence and another even more significant drop in sexual violence, down 60%. The figures are also positive for property damage and physical violence.

The accident rate remains high with 1,007 traffic violations and 6 accidents resulting in two deaths in Les Aires.
A black spot, particularly in the central commune, in Bédarieux, is drug trafficking and the consequences that are frequently found in the Béziers courtroom. Seven people were imprisoned this year after investigations by the Bédarieux Cob military. “A lot of trafficking has been uncovered. There are also a lot of consumers who are being checked”, assures the brigade commander.

Crack, a scourge

According to our information, hard drugs have reached the high cantons with seizures of heroin and cocaine, if not in quantity, at least in number. A representative of the public prosecutor, before the Béziers court, expressed, during an immediate appearance hearing before the Béziers court, his concern about the increase in cocaine and crack consumption in Bédarieux.

“It's a real concern, a public health problem that needs to be managed. We're facing a new phenomenon that's growing and we need to fight it effectively. Touching crack is like entering hell. You don't get out of it like that. For a month of consumption, you need a year of treatment to be abstinent and you become addicted from the first dose. It's a scourge.”

A situation that the mayor of the town, Francis Barsse, says he's not aware of. “We fight in collaboration with the police as best we can but I did not know about this very specific point of crack.”

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