French municipalities expand video surveillance networks

Several French cities are expanding their video protection systems to enhance public security and assist law enforcement.

In Nérac, Mayor Nicolas Lacombe has initiated the installation of approximately 20 cameras, with plans to reach a total of 30 much by the end of 2027. The project, costing a total of €300,000, aims to cover the city center and main roads to assist municipal police and the gendarmerie in investigating crimes such as burglaries. This marks a shift in local policy compared to 2011, when a referendum saw residents reject similar measures.

In Metz, the municipal council has allocated an additional €1 million to its video surveillance program, bringing total funding to between €5 million and €6 million. This investment will fund the deployment of 42 new cameras in the Devant-les-Ponts, des Îles, Queuleu, and La Patrotte neighborhoods through early 2027. While officials claim existing cameras have aided in 80 arrests since January, opposition members have questioned the necessity of further spending without a comprehensive performance report.