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In Nîmes, southern France, a curfew for under-16s was introduced between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM to shield minors from violence and curb tensions, according to local authorities. Mayor Jean-Paul Fournier described the situation as "untenable," citing a "climate of fear and terror" created by drug traffickers. Additional police units will be deployed to enforce the curfew and address the issue. The decision follows a series of shootings in the city over the past month, including one in broad daylight, which left one person dead and several injured. Last week, the partially burned body of a 19-year-old was discovered on the outskirts of Nîmes.
Deputy Mayor Richard Schieven emphasized that the curfew aims to protect minors not involved in the drug trade, as well as those as young as 12 or 13 who are exploited by traffickers.
Béziers, 75 miles southwest of Nîmes, has had a curfew for under-13s from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM since last year, recently extended to under-15s in certain areas. Mayor Robert Ménard, speaking in 2024, justified the measure, stating, "No 10-year-old out on the street at 2:00 AM is up to anything but mischief." However, violence persists, with balaclava-clad youths recently attacking police with fireworks after luring them into an ambush.
In Limoges, southwestern France, a curfew for under-13s is in place for the summer holidays, but Mayor Émile Roger Lombertie admitted its ineffectiveness after a weekend of violence involving 100 people. "The curfew was useless," he said, calling for more police to enforce the measures.
The violence echoes a 2022 incident in Nîmes’ Pissevin area, where a 10-year-old boy was killed by a bullet, sparking nationwide outrage. Drug-related violence, once concentrated in Marseille, is now spreading across France. The Interior Ministry reported 110 deaths and over 300 injuries from drug-related incidents in 2024.
Justice Minister Gérard Darmanin and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau have prioritized combating the drug trade. Earlier this year, they passed legislation establishing two maximum-security prisons for drug lords, a dedicated prosecutors’ office branch, enhanced investigative powers, and protected status for informants. On Tuesday, Darmanin announced the transfer of 17 of France’s most dangerous drug traffickers to a high-security prison in Vendin-le-Vieil, northern France.
The government’s crackdown has faced retaliation, with a wave of arson and gun attacks on French prisons this spring attributed to drug gangs. Authorities remain committed to tackling the growing crisis as cities grapple with the challenges of enforcing curfews and restoring safety.
