France this week was in the midst of its local (departmental) elections which has seen a surge in support for the Front National of Marine Le Pen. The French press, never adverse at racial profiling, did go quite far this week. They spoke of evictions in Grimaud, close to St. Tropez; of a fire in a camp in Montpellier; of evictions in Bayonne;  but even more so on criminality.

A report of organised criminality and begging in the region of Lille in the North of France, whereby a Bulgarian gangster ring would force people to beg in that city. Just across the border, some Rroma were arrested for stealing handbags in a fancy shop in Liège.

In brief, the standard picture of the migrant South Eastern European Rrom, who comes to beg, steal, or simply benefit from the social welfare is reinforced, this ahead of elections where an extreme right party is making huge inroads…

• Métropole lilloise : un réseau bulgare obligeant des Roms à mendier, démantelé par la Sûreté du Nord. In: Nord Éclair. 27.03.2015. http://www.nordeclair.fr/info-locale/metropole-lilloise-un-reseau-bulgare-obligeant-des-roms-jna49b0n680050
• Liège: trois Roms interpellés suite à un vol de sacs dans une maroquinerie de luxe de la galerie Belle-Île. In: La Meuse.be. 24.03.2015. http://www.lameuse.be/1247612/article/2015-03-24/liege-trois-roms-interpelles-suite-a-un-vol-de-sacs-dans-une-maroquinerie-de-lux
• Incendie dans un camp de Roms à Montpellier. In: Le Figaro. 24.03.2015. http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2015/03/24/97001-20150324FILWWW00093-incendie-dans-un-camp-de-roms-a-montpellier.php
• Camp de roms de Grimaud: le juge décide l’expulsion. In: Var Matin. 20.03.2015. http://www.varmatin.com/grimaud/camp-de-roms-de-grimaud-le-juge-decide-lexpulsion.2084018.html
• Bayonne: trois squats de Roms evacuees. In: Sud Ouest. 26.03.2015. http://www.sudouest.fr/2015/03/26/bayonne-trois-squats-de-roms-en-cours-d-evacuation-1872014-4018.php

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