Too Dangerous After 9 PM? French Cities Bar Teens From Going Outside Because Of This Reason
Several cities across France imposed night-time curfews on minors following a surge in drug-related violence as authorities warned of a worsening security crisis that is increasingly targeting vulnerable youth. The city of Nîmes became the latest to enforce a curfew on under-16s between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM after a string of violent incidents including daylight shootings and the discovery of a partially burned body of a 19-year-old on the city's outskirts last week.
City's mayor Jean-Paul Fournier called the situation 'untenable", accusing drug traffickers of creating a 'climate of fear and terror." He announced additional police deployments to enforce the curfew and restore order, saying, 'We must prevent minors from being exposed to violence. The aim is to contain tensions and protect children who are either uninvolved or being exploited by criminal networks."
Other French Cities Follow Suit
In Beziers, a curfew has been in place since last year, initially targeting those under 13 and later expanded to under-15s in select areas. Mayor Robert Menard defended the move, saying, 'No 10-year-old out on the street at 2:00 AM is up to anything but mischief."
In Limoges, where a summer curfew is in place for children under 13, Mayor Emile Roger Lombertie said the results have been disappointing, acknowledging, 'We had disturbances by young people and the curfew was useless."
According to France' Interior Ministry, 110 people have died and more than 300 have been injured in drug-related violence in 2024 alone. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin and Justice Minister Bruno Retailleau have led a national crackdown that includes creation of two maximum-security prisons for high-profile traffickers, a new branch of the prosecutor's office focused on narcotics and expanded powers for investigators and protections for informants.
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