No PVs on Monday as police protest

POLICE union Alliance has said its officers will not be issuing PV penalty notices on Monday in a protest against the government’s prison reform plans.

The union, which covers around 38% of officers and is the second-largest police union, says they will instead issue “pretend procès-verbal” notices which will include a petition of support and details of their concerns.

However, only minor offences will be covered such as bad parking or out-of-date insurance stickers.

Alliance general secretary Jean-Claude Delage said anger was mounting against the proposals which would see the introduction of probation as an alternative to prison – with the prisons already holding 69,000 in cells built for 57,000.

He said the reforms would demotivate police officers who would see their hard work on the streets being dismantled by the otherworldliness or dogmatism of the Justice Minister Christiane Taubira.

Officers are also angry at proposals for pension reform, which they say could affect their right to early retirement due to the difficulty of their job.
Photo: Yves Roland - Fotolia.com