Strip criminals of French nationality-Sarkozy

Strip criminals of French nationality-Sarkozy 30 Jul 2010 12:02:35 GMT


Source: Reuters

PARIS, July 30 (Reuters) - President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Friday he wanted to strip French nationality from anyone of foreign origin who threatened the life of a police officer, in a crackdown after riots shook two French towns this month.
Speaking in Grenoble, where street violence erupted in mid-July after a local man died fleeing police after allegedly holding up a casino, Sarkozy said he also wanted to increase prison sentences for violent crimes.
"French nationality should be stripped from anybody who has threatened the life of a police officer or anybody involved in public policing," Sarkozy said.
Police in the Grenoble area have received death threats since the riots.
Sarkozy, whose hardline stance helped him win the 2007 election, has promised to crack down on urban violence following the riots.
The conservative leader has failed to reduce violent crime despite tougher policing following widespread riots in 2005. Neighbourhoods remain stricken by high youth unemployment, poor public services, drug trafficking and a rise in gun crime.
Sarkozy on Wednesday ordered the dismantling of 300 illegal camps of travellers and Roma across France and the immediate expulsion of Roma from Bulgaria and Romania who had committed public order offences. (Reporting by Emmanuel Jarry; Writing by John Irish; editing by Daniel Flynn and Jon Boyle)