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There are three interesting things going on here.

First, the cops aren't showing any ability to take charge and stomp this out. So the punks are learning that they can continue on. Even now, when the cops claim a night of partial success...they simply have less cops in the neighborhoods or had inclement weather. The punks are growing bolder by the lack of success of the cops.

Second, the longer this goes on...the more power and prestiage of the gangs. They can demonstrate their "reach" and bring in fresh members because of the pictures. As fast as the cops arrest them...they are letting them go. You can't really hold a 15-year old kid in jail for a lengthly period of time, and his parents are not able to control the punk.

Finally....this aggressive attitude is seeping into other countries. The gangs believe they can bring their war to any front....and for the most part...they are correct. I doubt seriously that the Dutch, Danish, Belgium or Italian cops can do much about this either. HOWEVER...when they finally start moving into Germany and you hear of a dozen cars burned in one night....watch for the skinheads. These guys have been waiting for a chance to show their patriotic "steel". There will likely be a major front put upon the Muslim gangs. The last people on Earth I'd want to have knocking at my front door are Nazi skinheads.

I don't see alot of French leadership here. The cops are not fixing the situation, and more cars are burned almost nightly.