Region of Paris will withdraw support for students sanctioned for violence

A region of Paris will withdraw support for cultural and sports activities for students sanctioned for violence or damage in schools, today announced regional president Valérie Pécesse.

The measure is part of a set of initiatives to respond to the increase in incidents in schools in France, where there have been blockades, destruction of facilities, fires and illegal entry using pyrotechnic devices.

“ Who spoils, pays”, said Pécresse, in an interview with RTL radio, announcing that the region of the island of France – one of the 18 administrative regions of the country and that it has Paris as capital – will become a civil part of the hundreds of complaints made by the leaders of the schools affected.

In cases where those responsible for the damage are underage, the region will require civil responsibility to parents, he added.

The withdrawal of support will apply to students expelled by acts of violence or damage to the premises, provided that the disciplinary councils of the schools consider them responsible for the acts.

Pécisse defended the legality of the measure, stating that the support is optional and that the region can define the criteria for its allocation, also stressing that schools are spaces that must be protected from violence.

The regional president also announced that it will propose the installation of video surveillance cameras inside 50 schools where there were illegal entrances and shootings of pyrotechnic artifacts.

The installation of the cameras in the corridors is expected to advance in the coming weeks.

According to Pécisse, who warned of the risk of serious injuries or deaths caused by these devices, some teachers, employees and students were hit by gunshots a few inches from the face.

“It’s almost a miracle that we’ve only been injured this week,” he said.

The regional president also denounced a growing radicalisation of student protests, which says it hinders the normal functioning of classes, at a time when students and families want to regain normality.

Pécesse considered that, in addition to the spontaneous participation of young people concerned about the future, there is a structure organized behind the mobilizations, which he attributed to sectors of the extreme left.

She also accused the French Unsubmissive Party (LFI) of trying to take political advantage of the protests.