Swearing or Loitering Could Be Punished By Jail in France

Streetwalking, begging, loitering in public places and swearing at a policeman will become crimes punishable by a jail sentence under radical new laws that France's National Assembly began debating yesterday.

More than 30 human rights and civil liberties groups, as well as the leftwing opposition, have united against the 75-article "internal security bill" tabled by the hardline interior minister, Nicolas Sarkozy.

But the centre-right government, elected mainly on a promise to fight crime, is unlikely to soften its plans despite 100 amendments from Socialist and Green MPs, and the bill - dubbed "a war on the poor" by its opponents - should become law this spring.

The package introduces a new offence of "passive soliciting" for prostitutes, making them liable to fines of up to €3,750 (£2,500) and two months in jail for "soliciting by any means, including dress, position or attitude".

Travellers who occupy land belonging to another party also face the same fine, while youths who block the stairwells or other public areas of a block of flats could be sentenced to up to two months in prison. "Aggressive beggars" face a maximum of six months.

Swearing at a policeman, government official or any "person invested with public authority" could bring a fine of up to €30,000 (£20,000) and a two-year jail sentence, while uttering a death threat could cost €75,000 (£50,000).

The bill also dramatically extends police powers to search vehicles, frisk people, and take DNA samples from suspects. An amendment proposes to drop the police obligation to tell suspects that they have the right to remain silent.

The Socialist, Green and Communist parties promised yesterday to fight the package, warning of "a Republic where poverty and the expression of revolt become crimes".

But several polls yesterday suggested that 70% of the French electorate (including 50% of the left) believed Mr Sarkozy's plans were "going in the right direction".

Even Monday's announcement of a 26% rise in the murder rate last year appears to have done him no harm. The overall crime rate rose by just 1.2% compared to 7.5% in 2001, with a spectacular fall since May - when the man known as "France's top cop" took office.

More at guardian.co.uk/france