The Minister of the Interior and Overseas Territories, Gérald Darmanin, visited the gendarmerie in Pont-de-Salars, in the southwest of France, on April 25, 2024. Following the establishment of a curfew for minors in Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe by Minister Darmanin to combat delinquency, several mayors from right-wing and far-right parties have expressed their intention to implement similar measures in their municipalities. When asked about this by France 3 Occitanie, Darmanin expressed his support for curfews in other parts of France. He stated that it is not normal for children and teenagers to be out on the streets late at night when they should be at home, sleeping, and going to school the next day. He emphasized his support for curfews that target minors if there are instances of violence in specific areas of the country.
Minister Darmanin mentioned that mayors have the authority to issue decrees to prevent minors, especially those under 13 years old, from being outside. He stated that he supports the mayors who choose to do so, and that the prefects of the Republic will also support them. However, he added that if the administrative court is involved, it should ensure that there is no abuse of power in the implementation of these curfews. The Minister’s decision to implement a curfew for minors in Pointe-à-Pitre was in response to the high number of minors involved in delinquency in Guadeloupe. In light of this, mayors like Robert Ménard of Béziers have followed suit by introducing curfew measures in their communities to address issues related to youth crime and violence.
Inspired by Minister Darmanin’s announcement and Mayor Ménard’s initiative, other mayors across France have also announced similar curfew measures for minors in their respective cities. For example, Mayor Christian Estrosi of Nice praised Mayor Ménard’s actions and expressed his intention to implement a curfew for unaccompanied minors under the age of 13 in the entire city. Minister Darmanin considered the mayors who implement such measures to be reasonable individuals and expressed his support for their initiatives. He emphasized that while he supports these actions, it is not the role of the state to take over all territories and municipalities in enforcing curfews.
The initiative to impose curfews for minors in various municipalities has received both praise and criticism from different political figures and members of the public. While some view it as a necessary measure to address instances of violence and delinquency involving minors, others criticize it as a superficial solution that does not address the underlying issues. Critics argue that implementing curfews may infringe on the rights of minors and fail to provide long-term solutions to the problems at hand. However, supporters of the curfew measures believe that they are a step in the right direction to ensure the safety and well-being of young people in their communities.
In response to the escalating violence and crime involving minors, Minister Darmanin has shown his willingness to support and endorse the actions taken by local authorities to address these issues. By standing behind mayors who choose to implement curfews for minors in their municipalities, Darmanin is sending a strong message that the government is committed to tackling delinquency and ensuring public safety. This coordinated effort between the central government and local authorities reflects a collective determination to address the challenges posed by youth crime and violence in communities across France.
