The director of the Marseille PJ was fired the day after the police demonstration

The head of the judicial police (PJ) of France’s southern zone, Eric Arella, was relieved of his post on Friday, October 7, the national police headquarters (DGPN) told AFP, the day after a demonstration in Marseille. Against the reform of the PJ.

“It’s a shame, we blame him. He has always been faithful. And almost all managers are against this reform,” a PJ source in Marseille told AFP.

Eric Arella has conducted a particularly experimental investigation into drug gangs from Perpignan to Nice, via Marseille, which has been hit hardest by the scourge. He is being replaced by Dominique Abenanti, who is currently the security attaché in Algeria, the same source added.

With applause from the police

“He is accused of yesterday’s coup d’état“Another local police source commented, referring to a man.”highly respected“. Dozens of police officers also spontaneously gathered at the foot of the police station on Friday to applaud their boss.

On Thursday, around 200 PJ officers staged a demonstration in front of the Marseille police station to mark the arrival of the Director General of the National Police (DGPN). After leaving the meeting, Frederic Vo walked through the corridors in the icy atmosphere and had to part a fence of protesters who were cross-legged and silent, according to a video released to AFP on Thursday.

Eric Arella’s Expulsion “worrisomeand reflects “authoritarian management style“, – is assessed in the press release of the French Association of Instructive Magistrates (Afmi). In a separate press release, investigating magistrates in Marseille said they had learned “with surprise“measure and express themselves”deep concernRegarding the PJ reform project.

The reform of the PJ is causing enormous reluctance within the institution, but also on the part of the judiciary. The plan, led by Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin and Frederic Waugh, aims to bring under one department all police services: intelligence, public security, border police (PAF) and judicial police (PJ). Director of the National Police (DDPN), reporting to the Prefect.