Police: Authorities too soft on crime

French police unions accused authorities today of being too soft on crime-ridden neighbourhoods to prevent a repeat of the riots that raged a year ago through neglected housing projects nationwide.

Police are under scrutiny and pressure amid renewed bouts of violence around the anniversary of the three weeks of riots, which started on October 27, 2005.

Two youths were electrocuted that day while hiding from police in a power substation.

In the worst incident this year, marauders firebombed a public bus in Marseille on Saturday, leaving a woman with severe burns and fighting for her life.

Five youths, from age 15 to 17, were detained and were expected to be placed under investigation today.

Several other clashes broke out over the weekend.

In one case, the police chief for the Seine-et-Marine region south of Paris sent home 70 youths suspected in a gang clash that left a dozen cars trashed.

Police unions – Synergie, SNOP and UNSA Police – demanded an internal police probe.

“For the victims, this decision is disastrous and testifies to the cowardice of the state,” said Bruno Beshchizza of Synergie.

He demanded to know whether Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy had been behind the decision to free the youths.