French cities impose curfews on children after drug violence

French Cities Enforce Night Curfews for Minors Amid Escalating Drug Violence

Rising Tensions Spark Government Action
A surge in drug-related violence has pushed several French cities to enforce strict curfews for children and teenagers. The latest city to take this measure is Nîmes in the south of France, which has seen a rise in brutal incidents involving criminal drug networks. Officials say these restrictions are aimed at shielding minors from escalating street violence and restoring public order. The new curfew forbids anyone under the age of 16 from being outside between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM.

Tragic Incidents Prompt Swift Measures
The urgency of the situation was underscored last week when the charred body of a 19-year-old was discovered near Nîmes. This followed several shootings in recent weeks that left one dead and multiple others injured. The mayor of Nîmes, Jean-Paul Fournier, described the current situation as “untenable,” blaming drug dealers for creating a climate of terror. Additional police forces are being deployed to support enforcement and surveillance during curfew hours.

Protecting Children and Preventing Exploitation
Authorities emphasize that the curfews are not just about reducing crime but also about safeguarding minors who are increasingly being used by drug traffickers. Richard Schieven, the deputy mayor of Nîmes, said the policy is designed to protect both innocent young people and those as young as 12 or 13 who are being exploited by criminals. Similar reasoning was used in Béziers, where a curfew for children under 13 has been in place since last year. The city extended this to include under 15s in high-risk areas.

Ongoing Violence Undermines Impact of Curfews

Despite the enforcement of curfews, violence has continued in Béziers. Over the weekend, masked youths reportedly lured police officers into ambushes using fireworks, according to local media. A similar outburst of violence was reported in Limoges, prompting the city to implement a summer curfew for minors under 13. However, Mayor Émile Roger Lombertie admitted that the curfews had failed to stop the unrest, blaming a lack of police presence for the inability to arrest offenders during violent outbreaks involving up to 100 people.

Deadly History and Growing Geographic Spread
Two years ago, public outrage followed the death of a 10-year-old boy who was killed by a stray bullet in the Pissevin neighborhood of Nîmes. This incident highlighted the deeply rooted dangers that drug trafficking poses to French communities. While Marseille has long been recognized as the heart of France’s gang-related drug violence, recent events in cities like Nîmes and Limoges suggest the crisis is spreading beyond traditional hotspots.

Grim Statistics Reveal National Crisis
The French interior ministry reports that drug-related violence claimed the lives of 110 people and injured over 300 others across the country in 2024 alone. These alarming figures underline the growing severity of the drug war being waged in French streets. In response, the government has passed new legislation focused on dismantling drug networks and prosecuting offenders more effectively.

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Government Cracks Down on Drug Networks
Justice Minister Gérard Darmanin and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau have led a coordinated push against the drug trade. Their initiatives include the creation of two maximum-security prisons specifically for major drug offenders, the expansion of the prosecutors’ office to include a drug-focused division, and enhanced protections for informants. On Tuesday, Darmanin announced that 17 of France’s most dangerous drug traffickers were moved to the high-security Vendin-le-Vieil prison in northern France.

Violent Retaliation by Drug Gangs
This crackdown has not gone unanswered. Earlier this year, France saw a wave of arson attacks and shootings targeting its prisons. Authorities believe these were acts of retaliation by drug cartels resisting the government’s intensified control. The cycle of violence and state response continues to shape public safety strategies across the nation, with curfews being just one piece of a much broader effort.

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