Several French cities are tightening their grip on youth activity this summer, introducing nighttime curfews for minors as a response to increasing concerns over youth crime and vandalism. While some mayors see visible improvements, others and human rights groups question the long-term impact of these measures.
In Triel-sur-Seine, a small town 35 kilometers west of Paris, an 11 pm to 5 am curfew for under-18s was introduced following incidents of public property damage and theft.
Mayor Cédric Aoun, a strong supporter of the initiative, said the measure has brought immediate results. “It’s become very quiet,” he said, noting that many parents are now taking their responsibilities more seriously. “Parents are much more careful,” Aoun added.
The curfew trend is spreading across France, transcending political lines. In Nîmes, authorities introduced a temporary curfew for children under 16 after a wave of urban violence linked to drug trafficking.
Other towns, including Béziers, Villecresnes in the southeastern Paris suburbs, and Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, have also adopted similar bans for the summer. According to France’s Interior Ministry, teenagers aged 13 to 17 accounted for 6% of crimes last year, including over a third of violent robberies without weapons.
Local authorities argue that curfews help prevent incidents before they escalate. Anthony Rouet, head of the Triel-sur-Seine municipal police, said the measure “allows us to take preventive action before damage is done.” So far, officers have mostly focused on informing minors about the ban rather than issuing fines.
However, enforcement challenges remain. Villecresnes Mayor Patrick Farcy reported about 40 curfew violations this summer but admitted that police shortages and delayed fines limit the impact.
“Too much time passes between the offence being reported and the fine being issued,” he said. In some areas, streetlights are even switched off at night to discourage youth gatherings.
Skepticism persists about the true effectiveness of curfews. Michel Amiel, the mayor of Pennes-Mirabeau near Marseille, previously introduced a curfew for children under 13 but decided against reapplying it this year.
He described the measure as “mainly psychological,” noting that it is difficult to quantify its real impact on youth crime. Rights organizations strongly oppose the curfews, arguing they are a repressive approach that criminalizes minors instead of addressing root causes.
Nathalie Tehio, head of the French Human Rights League, has launched legal action against the Triel-sur-Seine curfew. “This is not an effective response,” she said, urging the implementation of educational and community engagement measures instead.
As summer continues, French towns remain divided over the balance between public safety and personal freedoms for minors. While quieter streets may reassure some residents, the debate over whether curfews deliver lasting change remains unresolved.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
