8th June 2022
The French national auditor has criticised the haemorraging of staff in the prefectures, considering that the job cuts have not been "realistic".
The prefectures are the local administrative arm of the State, responsible, alongside the local councils, for the delivery and control of public services, such as land use planning, schools, identity cards, passports, residence and work permits, consumer standards, economic development and management of the police and the fire and rescue services. There is a prefecture in each department.
According to the auditor, their report is an update on "ten years of an uninterrupted reduction in staff" since major reforms were commenced in 2010.