Armed police ads spark controversy

POSTERS INTRODUCING RESIDENTS IN ONE SOUTHERN FRENCH TOWN TO LOCAL POLICE’S “NEW FRIENDS” PROMPTS SOCIAL MEDIA OUTCRY THE CONTROVERSIAL far-right mayor of Béziers has sparked a social media

storm with a publicity campaign in the Herault town introducing residents to the local police’s new “friends” - their 7.65-calibre handguns. “From now on, the municipal police have a new

friend,” posters displayed around the town announce, next to a large image of the handguns. Underneath the image, the poster reads: “Armed 24/24, 7/7”. The campaign has prompted a social

media storm. One Twitter poster suggested that police in the town have turned into Dirty Harry. > Les flics de #Béziers mutent en inspecteur Harry. #Menard le fait > savoir avec une 

campagne d'affichage mesurée... > pic.twitter.com/xUFjnG5JcA— loljak (@loljak) February 11, 2015 And one recalled the notorious “Say hello to my little friend,” quote from the

gangster movie Scarface. > "say hello to my little friend" la police municipale de Béziers en > mode Scarface... #fb pic.twitter.com/FPhVsQq06a— kdbuzz (@kdbuzz) > 

February 11, 2015 Others have mocked the message, with satirical variations such as this: > Le "nouvel ami" des policiers de Béziers déjà tourné en ridicule >>>  

http://t.co/weTwccWqB1 pic.twitter.com/dim7Fqn04y— L'Obs > (@LeNouvelObs) February 11, 2015 Mr Menard told BFMTV that the message was intended to reassure residents. He said: “It is

reassuring for residents, who know they have armed police to protect them. It is reassuring for the police themselves.” Interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve, however, criticised the posters.

In a statement, he said that he regretted the tone of the campaign, adding that: “The best friends of the police are not their weapons … but the French citizens who respect republican

values.” Mr Medard is no stranger to controversy. The far-right politician was elected mayor of Béziers at last year’s municipal elections with the support of the Front National. Since his

election, he has ordered a curfew for young people in the town; and banned the drying of laundry on balconies - a decision which gave satirical Canal+ show material for a sketch called

Béziers City. Picture: BFMTV screengrab