Par Camille Balzinger
Published on 20 October 22 at 18:26
It’s late, it’s dark, Jeanne * and two of her friends are dancing in a party venue in Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin). Between 6 and 7 October, however, the evening does not end as they would have liked.
According to the young woman’s words, after going out to go home, she wanted to look for her things in the locker room. The agent would refuse to let her in again, her tone would rise … and she would end up using tear gas to get the customers off.
Call the police … and get caught
Jeanne’s friend then called the police, who, once there, took the young man away. “We didn’t understand each other: we call them, we get gas, and it’s my friend who ends up at the station”, complains Jeanne, “for being drunk on the public highway”.
A situation of which the owner of the club in question says he is not aware: “I try to be everywhere at the same time on the evenings when we are open, but I have not heard of this case”. According to him, verbal quarrels with goalkeepers occur regularly, especially since the reopening after subsequent confinements. But according to him they don’t “normally use tear gas”.
An ongoing investigation
If Jeanne remembers that the municipal police intervened, it was in fact the national police who ended up arresting her friend. “As this is an ongoing judicial investigation, there will be no communications on the matter,” said the latter.
When asked about the frequency of interventions of this type, at night in Strasbourg, he will not even give details, “every situation is different”.
The municipal police, for their part, specify that bouncers, when overwhelmed, must call the police. “But the jurisprudence on tear gas varies a lot: some support the action of the bouncer, others condemn it,” he continues. It all depends on whether the judge determines whether the reason for using it is legitimate or not.
Private companies to ensure security
In this facility, a private company provides security. “We don’t have the clearance to hire the bouncers ourselves,” says the manager. However, he acknowledges that he is responsible for what happens in front of his factory and “does not approve of the use of tear gas”.
The municipal police, after immersing themselves in the regulations, explain that they are not clear: “Anyone can carry a can of tear gas if it does not exceed 100 ml, and if the person has a legitimate reason to do “.
They are in fact considered Category D weapons. The national security code provides that private security guards – therefore accredited – can use “aerosol generators of tear gas or disabling”.
No complaints this time
After her friend’s police custody ends, Jeanne thinks about filing a complaint. But she is not sure: “Six years ago I already filed a complaint”. For similar facts, where a bouncer from another Strasbourg plant would have already gassed her at that moment.
But according to the young woman “it didn’t work”. She would have been summoned once to the police station to identify the suspects, but she hasn’t heard from her since.
* The name has been changed.
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