Algeria ensures the safety of summer holidaymakers

27/06/2008

Since the official start of the summer season on June 1st, Algeria's "Delphine Plan" has mobilised more than 44,000 officers to ensure the safety of summer visitors.

By Hayam El Hadi for Magharebia in Algiers – 27/06/08

[Hayam El Hadi] A combination of fixed and mobile security detachments has been deployed to Algeria's coastal towns and beaches to ensure the safety of summer visitors.

No fewer than 12 million people are expected to visit the Algerian coast this year, the civil defence estimates. In preparation, the Algerian government has stepped up security in 14 coastal towns to combat the activities of bandits and to thwart terrorist attacks.

Introduced in 2004, the "Delphine Plan" entails the large-scale deployment of security forces to popular vacation areas in order to prevent and counter all kinds of crimes.

This year, the national Gendarmerie has mobilised 44,150 men to watch over 245 officially recognised bathing beaches. Road checkpoints have been set up at the entrances to the beaches and car searches are almost routine. Fixed attachments provide support for foot patrols whose presence is intended to dissuade those intent on committing crimes or terrorist attacks.

The police officers will be on duty from dawn to dusk to ensure that holidaymakers are not troubled.

"Aggressive behaviour and criminal activities on the public highway and in leisure and family areas can create a feeling of insecurity among members of the public," said National Gendarmerie spokesman Abderrahmane Ayoub.

"They will be countered by a permanent presence to prevent and discourage them from happening. Whatever the case, all resources have been mobilised to ensure the safety of the public and to reflect our image as a republican institution which is close to the day-to-day reality of the country," he added.

This year, the national police plan to provide communications devices for all policemen on duty, to help them better co-ordinate their activities. A number of special units, including dog handlers, air support, security response teams (SSI) and law enforcement teams will be on call.

Many of the holidaymakers say they are reassured by the police presence.

On Colonel Abbass beach, east of Algiers, Hamid watched over his small family, making the most of the sunshine.

"I tell you, when I see the security forces, I’m reassured," he told Magharebia. "I know that neither I nor my children are in any kind of danger. You see, I'm not talking about violent behaviour; it's the fear of terrorist attacks that bothers me. It's already happened – remember the bomb hidden in the sand at Bab El Oued a few years ago," he asked.

Loubna, a young woman who has come to the beach with several friends, had a similar view.

"I could never come to an unsupervised beach. We’re a group of girls, and I’m too frightened of being attacked," she said. "With the police just over there, I’m not in any kind of danger."