French police cry ‘savagery’ as attacks on officers rise

ASSAULTS on French police officers, firefighters and ambulance crews have hit record levels, averaging 110 a day amid unprecedented public hostility.

More than 23,000 assaults against security forces, firefighters and ambulance crews have been recorded this year, a 15 per cent rise on the same period in 2018. Violence against police officers has increased by more than 60 per cent in less than 20 years,

Assailants pretending to be accident victims have often ambushed police officers and firefighters.

On Saturday, about 30 attackers hurled stones at firefighters as they tackled a burning vehicle in the Paris suburb of Mantes-la-jolie. Forced to retreat, the firefighters abandoned equipment and could not put out the blaze until police arrived 45 minutes later.

The “yellow vest” protests have raised tensions and fuelled animosity towards the police. Senior officers also blame Islamist radicalisation and the perception in many deprived areas that police officers are the enemy.

Patrice Ribeiro, the secretary-general of the Synergie-officiers police union, said: “There is no longer any respect for authority and the sense of impunity has increased.

“The radicalisation of behaviour has today reduced part of the population to savagery,” Mr Ribeiro added.

Another police union official said: “Gangs are now assaulting firefighters and ambulance crews, who are hardly likely to use force, just as often as they attack the police.”