Brest, the once sleepy port city at the far western tip of France, is facing a rise in drug trafficking – and as a result, shootings, stray bullets and open street dealing have become a part of life in the city of 140,000 people, and are reshaping the political debate ahead of France's local elections.
The issue has forced a political rethink at Brest's city hall. Socialist François Cuillandre, the city's mayor since 2001, has reversed his long-held opposition to creating a municipal police force and now says he will do so if re-elected.
