Pave: French Car-be-cues 2007

Le jour 463 de Sarko

37,359 CAR-BE-CUES IN 2007
Excellent Prospects In France For Car Dealerships,
Apply To Michèle Alliot-Marie, Minister of the Interior

Torching cars is a tradition during French holidays. These cheering fires add zest and excitement especially to occasions that rely on ginned-up symbolism without real meaning or when a festive spirit is absent.

But in France there are plenty of gloomy days that need a little excitement. [Pause.] Almost any day. [Pause.] Or every day.

From Le Salon Beige:

Le nombre de « violences urbaines » commises en 2007 en France a été discrètement publié par le ministère de l’Intérieur. Il s’élève à 93 016, dont 37 359 incendies de véhicules, soit 102 par jour ! Le reste se répartit entre 26 217 incendies de poubelles, 7 955 dégradations de mobilier urbain (recensées dans la même catégorie, que celui-ci soit juste endommagé ou totalement détruit), 6 856 jets de projectile (les destinataires étant principalement les policiers et les pompiers), 5 658 rodéos automobiles et 4 101 « violences collectives à l’encontre des forces de sécurité, de secours et de santé », à distinguer des « jets de projectile » qui sont des actes individuels …

[The numbers on “urban violence” committed in 2007 in France has been discreetly published by the Interior Ministry. It comes to 93,016, including 37,359 vehicle torchings, which is to say 102 per day! The remainder is distributed between 26,217 dumpster fires, 7,955 instances of damage to city property (whether just damaged or completely destroyed, listed in the same category), 6,856 peltings by projectile (the targets being mainly police officers and firemen), 5,658 joyrides [scil., car thiefs] and 4,101 “collective violence against the security forces, emergency and medical services”, to distinguish from the “peltings by projectile” that are individual acts…]

[Hat tip: Hervé]

PFFT (What is this?): Brightening gloomy France 3½ | Rayonnement français 0