A controversial and pressing issue involving immigration, crime and gypsies has been the centre of attention in France, Trang Anh writes from Paris for DTiNews.

Children of a Roma family at an illegal campsite

A modern gypsy van

Gypsy vans blocking the highway outside Bordeaux, protesting against deportation.

In July 2010, President Sarkozy summoned his ministers and police chiefs to find a solution to the increasing social problems caused by “Gens du voyage”.

The French parliament voted 355 to 1 in favor of the President’s strong action to repatriate those classified as illegal or criminals.

According to the French authorities, at least 300 illegal camps or “squats” are scattered in villages throughout France, accommodating about 500,000 gypsies.

Living in a village** in the South of Paris, I am familiar with “Gens du voyage”, or traveling people. These nomadic Eastern Europeans are commonly known as gypsies in other countries.

In the village where I live, there has been a large increase in the number of serious crimes that can be directly linked to the influx of “Gens du voyage”.

Some “Gypsies” pose as basket or carpet sellers to enter a home, taking note of what they see and reporting it to youths who break in later.

With robbery increases rising, French police can no longer conduct thorough investigations unless someone is seriously injured or murdered. The police told one friend whose house had been robbed, “We don’t have the manpower or resources to investigate every case.”

Car theft has become one of the most common activities associated with the “Gens du Voyage” crime increases.

My older neighbor, Henri, owned a Saab. As usual, one day he took his wife to a local supermarket. On the way home, they pulled up to a red light. Henri stopped the car. Suddenly, somebody from behind hit the tail of his car, jumped out and started shouting at Henri, accusing him of hitting her car. He was shocked and got out, leaving the key inside the ignition. An argument ensued, Henri’s wife got out of the vehicle and the next thing they knew, their car was gone.

Two weeks later, French police spotted three gypsy men sitting inside Henri’s stolen Saab and began a pursuit. The car was loaded with beer and as the chase went on, the police car was hit nearly one hundred times by bottles and cans. One police car flipped but nobody was hurt. Another trapped the stolen vehicle capturing the “Gens du voyage”.

My close friend Claudine owned a Volvo. One morning, a car in front of her slowed down and blocked her way, forcing her to stop. Immediately, a man wearing a mask appeared at her window and tried to grab her handbag. She resisted and was pulled out of the car. She was beaten until she collapsed, her assailant jumping into the car and driving off. When the police asked Claudine to described the robbers, she said she could only remember his eyes because he was wearing a mask.

Two weeks later, two men conducted an armed robbery near Paris. They thought the old gentleman living at the property was alone as usual. Entering the home wearing masks, they tried to intimidate the old man with a gun. Unknown to them, his son was there and quickly jumped from behind, grabbing the gun, shooting one man in the leg. The other man made an escape while the wounded gypsy was taken by the police. The police he had driven the stolen Volvo and contacted Claudine for further questioning. Given photographs of many pairs of eyes, she correctly identified her assailant.

A man named Francois owned a Saab turbo. He parked it along the riverside of the Seine one afternoon. When he returned to his car, he noticed some damage on one side. Looking around, he saw nobody, got into the car, inserted the key, and was ready to leave. At that moment, a young man appeared and said to him, “I know the guy who did this to your car, he is still hiding over there. Come with me!” Francois got out of the car, leaving the key inside. While he and the youth were walking and searching, another youth appeared and quickly stole the vehicle. These stories go on and on.

In a recent opinion poll by Le Figaro, 77% of the French public is in favor of dismantling the illegal gypsy camps. Between 70% and 80% of the public want foreign born criminals to be stripped off their French citizenship.

In another poll by L\'Humanité, 62% of the public wanted the illegal camps to be taken down and 72% want the government to take away criminals French citizenship.

Beginning in August, each illegal gypsy family was given a certain amount of cash and a free airplane trip back to their home country. Most refused the offer.

** The name of the village mentioned in this story cannot be revealed because it could put the author in danger and residents do not want to publicise it as it would diminish property value