French MPs debate young offenders scheme

French members of parliament on Tuesday will debate a controversial scheme to send some young offenders to centres staffed largely by retired military personnel.   

The idea was first floated by maverick Socialist Ségolène Royal when she stood against Nicolas Sarkozy in the 2007 presidential elections.

Sarkozy himself is now backing a version of the idea, which critics say is little more than a public relations stunt as part of his re-election campaign.

The French president is under pressure to deliver on previous promises to crackdown on crime and especially juvenile delinquency.

The idea is to offer 16 to 18 year olds convicted of certain crimes an alternative to prison.

They would live in a special institution for up to a year, and do some sort of unpaid work considered socially useful.

Offenders and their parents must sign an agreement to take part in the scheme.

The young people would be supervised mostly by retired ministry of defence personnel. A defence committee report advised against the participation in the scheme of serving military.

"The role of a professional army is not to educate young offenders but to assure the defence of the country", insists Eric Ciotti, who put forward the bill under discussion today.

Those on the scheme would wear uniform, take part in a daily flag-raising ceremony, and join a daily physical exercise regime.

Some on the right feel the scheme is not tough enough, but politicians on the left are expecially divided over the idea.

It appears popular with the public, many of whom regret the abolition of compulsory military service, with little discussion, by former president Jacques Chirac.   

Some commentators even suggest that Sarkozy's real motivation is a desire to stir up discord among leading Socialists over the plan.