The “new management of security” put to the test: crime and police activity under Minister Sarkozy (2002-2007)

Following the legislative and presidential elections of 2002, Nicolas Sarkozy was named Minister of the Interior and, during the five year term of Jacques Chirac (2002-2007), occupied this position for more than three and a half years. During this period, he wanted to introduce a new management as well as imposing upon the gendarmerie (military institution in charge of public safety with police duties among the civilian population [translator’s note]) and the police, a culture of results . According to him, it was this type of management and culture that five years later allowed him to declare a strong drop in crime as well as a clear improvement in the mobilization and performance of law enforcement. These two claims and the causality between them will here be subjected to scrutiny.Thus, the analysis will review the nature of this new management and outline a different assessment.