An increase in attacks on municipal officers
In France, attacks on municipal staff are on the rise. Receptionists, municipal police officers, social services and technical staff... All are facing an increase in incivility, threats and sometimes physical assaults. According to a recent study, the number of officers who have been victims of violence has increased by more than 20% in five years.
This rise in violence poses a real security problem for public employers and municipalities, which must implement concrete solutions to protect the physical and psychological well-being of their employees. The protection of municipal employees is becoming a major issue for local authorities.
Why are municipal officers a target for attacks?
Municipal staff are on the front line when it comes to interacting with the public. Whether dealing with administrative requests, ensuring local safety, or responding to incidents in the field, these officers are often confronted with tense situations.
The aggravating factors are as follows:
- Increased social tensions: The economic crisis, rising prices, and general uncertainty contribute to a climate of stress and aggression.
- Direct contact with the public: Some officers deal with complex situations (housing, social assistance, fines), which can provoke violent reactions.
- Lack of effective protective measures: In many town halls, employees do not have any rapid alert tools in case of assault.
- Lack of training in conflict management: Many officers do not have specific training in dealing with aggressive behavior.
A stronger legal framework to better protect municipal employees
Since the law of August 24, 2021, public employers have been required to protect their employees against all forms of threats, violence, or insults in the performance of their duties. This responsibility was reinforced with the National Plan for the Protection of Public Servants, launched on September 14, 2023.
This plan brings several changes:
- Extension of functional protection to the agent's beneficiaries (spouse, family).
- Ease of filing complaints: an elected official or superior can now file a complaint on behalf of the employee, thereby avoiding fear of reprisals.
- Immediate support for assaulted officers: possibility of temporary removal from duty, temporary disability leave, psychosocial support.
- Systematic handling of complaints by the Public Prosecutor's Office.
These measures aim to ensure effective support for municipal employees who are victims of violence.
Prevention and awareness: key measures
In addition to the legal framework, several measures have been put in place to raise awareness and prevent violence:
- An annual barometer of violence against public officials has been in place since 2024 in partnership with the Department of the Interior to accurately assess the evolution of the phenomenon.
- A committee for the protection of public officials has been set up to monitor the measures and their effectiveness.
- Appropriate training courses are offered to agents to teach them how to manage tensions and prevent conflicts. In response to the rise in incivility, the DITP (Interministerial Directorate for Public Transformation) offers an immersive training program in the form of a game to help public officials anticipate and manage these situations. Inspired by real-life events, it allows participants to experiment with concrete scenarios in order to adopt the right reflexes and reinforce team safety.
https://www.modernisation.gouv.fr/campus-de-la-transformation-publique/catalogue-de-ressources/outil/violence-lagence-lutter-contre - Strong communication campaigns are being launched to raise awareness among users. The city of Nîmes, for example, rolled out the "Do you find this violent? So do we" campaign in 2022, highlighting the reality of the attacks suffered by municipal employees.
"We work for you, not against you!"is the relevant message of the campaign entitled "Stop attacks on public service personnel" launched by the Brest Metropolitan Area.
"Say STOP to incivility," a 2024 campaign by the city of Osny.
These actions help raise awareness and encourage respectful behavior toward public officials.
Towards a protection obligation for town halls?
Today, the implementation of security measures varies from one municipality to another. Some large cities have Urban Supervision Centers (USCs) that enable real-time surveillance of public spaces, while other communities still lack the necessary equipment.
A change in legislation could require municipalities to equip themselves with protective measures to ensure the safety of their employees. Such an obligation would encourage local authorities to invest in modern and effective solutions to protect their employees.
Concrete solutions to enhance agent safety through connected alert devices
To meet these challenges, My Keeper offers innovative solutions that are easy to implement and tailored to local authorities.
The new SecurIT connected alert system enables municipal officers to send an alert signal in case of danger. This device can take several forms:
✅ Athena+ beacon: 100% mobile, this geolocatable beacon can be quickly and discreetly activated in the event of an alert, providing 24/7 audio verification of the remote assistance call and triggering a cascade of calls to discreetly notify nearby stakeholders.
The Athena+ beacon also protects lone workers in the event of illness or a fall, with a fall detector activated on each beacon.
✅ The Hestia+ siren: a programmable audible alarm (80 to 95 dB) with built-in speaker and microphone. Its flashing light can be customized with different colors tailored to each risk to make it easier to understand the current alert. This siren can be installed in municipal buildings and at the Urban Supervision Center (CSU) or directly at the municipal police station, thereby enhancing the responsiveness of security forces.
✅ The Hermès screen: connected to the Hestia+ siren, this alert screen displays customizable scrolling messages. It improves accessibility for people with hearing impairments and instantly clarifies any alerts in progress, reducing the risk of misunderstanding safety instructions.
✅ The SecurIT SOS mobile app: Offers three activation modes, provides accurate geolocation at the time of the alert, and 24/7 audio verification by remote assistance, CSU, or the city's municipal police.
✅ Keeper alert button: Manual Bluetooth trigger connected to the mobile app, eliminating the need to take out your phone in case of an emergency. It can be attached to a watch strap, armband, belt clip, or key ring.
Conclusion
Municipal employees are central to the smooth running of local communities, but they face increasingly risky situations. To protect them, it is essential that municipalities implement concrete solutions.
With SecurIT, city halls can enhance the safety of their employees while ensuring smooth public services. By combining prevention, training, and technological solutions, it is possible to better protect those who serve the community on a daily basis.
Would you like to protect your municipal employees more effectively? Contact us for a proposal tailored to your municipality!
Sources:
Government information: https://www.info.gouv.fr/actualite/un-plan-de-protection-pour-les-agents-publics
France 3 regions / City of Nîmes: https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/occitanie/gard/nimes/nimes-hausse-de-400-des-agressions-d-agents-municipaux-en-2021-2432551.html
City of Osny – Anti-incivility campaign: https://osny.fr/les-services/les-agents-municipaux-meritent-le-respect
City of Le Beausset – Anti-incivility campaign: https://www.ville-lebeausset.fr/actualites/1161/contre-les-incivilites.html
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