A weekend of strong criminal activity, marked once again by the consumption of alcohol or narcotics: this is the report drawn up by the public prosecutor. He advocates an addiction awareness course, as an additional penalty or as an alternative to prosecution.
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Posted on July 12, 2021 at 2:01 p.m., updated July 12, 2021 at 2:03 p.m.
The police and the duty services at the courthouse were not idle this weekend of July 10 and 11. According to a report transmitted by the public prosecutor, the Public Prosecutor’s Office followed 33 custody measures, and they mainly concerned acts of aggravated violence, aggravated thefts and traffic offenses.
Domestic violence
In detail, develops Yves Dupas, two people were referred for domestic violence, with a view to an immediate hearing.
Baseball bat assault
Same procedure in sight for a third person, who will have to answer for violence with a weapon (in this case a baseball bat). Not only, one of the victims presents a total incapacity for work of 90 days but according to the prosecutor, this justifies the opening of a judicial investigation. “because of a possible permanent disability”.
Snatching
The fourth person mentioned by Yves Dupas is implicated for snatching theft, without incapacity for work. She is placed under judicial control and summoned to court on December 9.
Traffic offenses
Another highlight of the weekend, a road control operation coordinated between the police and the gendarmerie, on the night of Saturday to Sunday, on requisitions of the prosecutor. It has already led to court summons for 43 drivers who were driving without a license, got behind the wheel in a state of alcohol, refused to comply or were found to be in default of insurance.
The weight of addictions
“In relation to this criminal activity”, underlines Yves Dupas, “The Public Prosecutor’s Office wishes to point out, once again, that in most of the procedures carried out, the alleged criminal acts are part of a context of high alcohol or drug consumption.”
And to continue: “It clearly appears that the addiction problem which has been particularly prevalent in the territory for several years justifies the implementation of sustained actions in terms of public policies.”
Proposition
“This is why the Public Prosecutor’s Office has, in its field of competence, the project to set up an awareness training course on addiction to alcohol and narcotics”, he suggests, “which may be pronounced by the court as an additional sentence or proposed by the prosecution as an alternative measure to prosecution”.
An action on the model of the citizenship course for first-time violent spouses, created at the start of the year as part of a partnership with the southern province and the High Commission.
Beyond the challenges in terms of public health, it is for the prosecution to allow the judicial institution to improve the quality of criminal responses by means of these educational courses in order to prevent recidivism.
