Visiting the Metz detention center, Bruno Retailleau announces the creation of additional places in France

Between two public meetings in Sarreguemines in Moselle and then in Pont-à-Mousson in Meurthe-et-Moselle, the Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau, also a candidate for the presidency of the Republicans, made a flash visit on Friday May 2 at the administrative detention center (CRA) in Metz-Queuleu. A center under tension according to the police unions.

It is a double cap that Bruno Retailleau is currently carving because the current Minister of the Interior is also a candidate for the presidency of the Republicans against Laurent Wauquiez. Normally, the tenant’s agenda in Place Beauvau is already often very busy but with the duel for the presidency of LR, it takes on presidential campaign.

Example in Lorraine this Friday, May 2, 2025, with the program of Bruno Retailleau two public meetings, the first in the middle of the day in Sarreguemines in East Moselle, then in the early evening in Pont-à-Mousson in Meurthe-et-Moselle. Between these two meetings with some of the 122 000 members of his party, the Minister of the Interior is reappeared for an express visit to the Administrative Retention Center (CRA) in Metz-Queuleu.

A center that was not chosen at random since it was here that the murderer of Philippine, killed in Paris on September 21, 2024, had been retained for three months before his release in early September and his act a few days later, while he was the subject of an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF). “We came here to the Metz administrative detention center” said Bruno Retailleau “To underline the role of this tool in our policy of remoteness of foreigners in an irregular situation. Unfortunately, the murderer of Philippine was released too early. He was released too early and from there, he killed, he violated. Philippine crossed his path and she died and she is no longer.“

Concretely, in the center of Metz, 35 peacekeepers are missing to ensure security

Fabrice MARSEU, departmental delegate of the Union Unit 57 police union

According to the police unions, there is a lot of tensions at the Metz detention center and there is a lack of staff. “”Il There is a sub-effective in our ranks ” explains Fabrice Marseu Departmental delegate of the Unit Unit Unit 57 “To supervise the selected which are almost 100% of former prisoners, placed in a detention center awaiting their expulsion. Concretely, aU center of Metz, 35 peacekeepers are missing to ensure security. Currently, there are a hundred supervisors, it would take at least 135. We expect from Bruno Retailleau that he announces reinforcements of staff.“

The trade unionist notes in passing that the profile of the selected has changed a lot in recent years. “”Fifteen years ago, there were families, people who overall respected authority While now, we have to do with experienced offenders who only think of one thing, it’s putting chaos. “And it is true that lately, the Metz detention center which has a capacity of 98 places, 14 of which are reserved for women, is often talked about in the section of various facts such as the escape of 12 migrants in September 2022, a start of riot on the evening of the Holy Sylvestre still in 2022 or more recently the affair of a cutting pliers deposited by Drone.

In his speech, the Minister of the Interior, recalled that the Senate – mainly on the right – had adopted at first reading the lengthening of the duration of retention from 90 to 180 days – or even at 210 days – for foreigners condemned for serious facts or for foreigners condemned for the title of terrorist activity. In addition, Bruno Retailleau, confirmed that he wanted to see the number of places increase in detention centers in France which is currently from 1950 with the aim of going to 3 000 places in the coming years.

Currently, in France there are 27 administrative detention centers such as that of Metz, whether in mainland France or in ultra-marine territories.