Petition gains support in Toulouse

A petition titled Nos quartiers veulent vivre en paix has collected more than 17,300 signatures in Toulouse, following several episodes of armed violence in the metropolitan area. The petition is driven by residents of several popular neighborhoods, including Bellefontaine, de la Reynerie, de Bagatelle, and de la Faourette.

Residents demand coordinated action

The initiators of the petition are requesting a meeting with public authorities to strengthen security and prevention. They aim to discuss ways to combat drug trafficking, enhance security measures, and prevent further violence.

Collaboration among local institutions

The petition calls for collaboration among the City of Toulouse, the Departmental Council of Haute-Garonne, the Occitanie Region, and the prefect. The signatories emphasize the need for these institutions to work together, share alerts, coordinate interventions, and build responses with the residents.

Recent incidents fuel concerns

The mobilization follows several shooting incidents, including three near the same bakery in Empalot between October 4 and October 6, and another on October 10 at Mirail. The signatories request that the affected neighborhoods benefit from the same security guarantees as other areas in the city.

Focus on drug trafficking and police presence

The petition highlights the fight against drug trafficking networks and the circulation of weapons as a priority, along with the need for a more regular presence of national and municipal police, as well as appropriate investigative and judicial means.

Emphasis on prevention and community support

The signatories also emphasize the need to support victims and defend the development of prevention, mediation, and support for families. They request that street educators and associations continue their work and that young people have more opportunities for training, employment, sports, and culture.

Security through daily engagement

The signatories argue that security is not built only after tragedies, but also through a daily presence on the ground and the ability to detect tensions before they escalate. They aim to restore close relationships between residents, public services, the police, and the justice system.

Need for coordinated and continuous efforts

The requested meeting should allow for the confrontation of observations, examination of actions already carried out, and identification of common priorities. The initiators want to avoid different actors intervening separately without lasting coordination.

Call for real, sustained action

The signatories summarize their expectations with a request for concrete action, stating they no longer want to be passed the buck or have responses after each tragedy. They want the institutions to participate in a common strategy combining security, prevention, and social support. At this stage, no date for a meeting with public officials has been announced.