Abstract
This text want to examine the issue of insecurity by articulating the concrete dimensions (the observed fact) and the representations (its apprehension by victims, witnesses and even perpetrators; its remediation during the dissemination of information) through objects that are still poorly known, even if their study has become more frequent: incivilities, incidents or violent behaviour on the public space that are not or only marginally related to a criminal offence. As such, insult is one of the major objects of this type of quest. The creation of a local observatory for public (un)tranquillity in Montpellier is a response to a request from the local Council for Security and Crime Prevention (CLSPD). The aim is to focus on the different levels of disturbance in public places likely to generate disorder in the population. These are commonly referred to by the generic term of insecurity, but by means of a fine-tuned approach, it is envisaged to distinguish disparate elements and to characterise several degrees, from incivilities to offences. What can be the interest of the scientist to engage in such an approach?