Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Crime in France - statistics & facts
In France, in February 2024, most crimes and offenses (excluding homicides) increased compared to the past few years. The indicators of sexual violence were particularly above those before the first 2020 lockdown. Moreover, in recent months, the sharpest increases were observed for drug use offenses and for drug trafficking, an activity that generated violent crimes in the country.
On the other hand, property crimes such as theft, have decreased in the past years. For instance, around 173,000 auto thefts were recorded in 2013 and only 140,000 in 2023. However regional differences were easily visible, with more thefts happening in the Paris region than elsewhere in France. On the other hand, concerning burglaries, the southeast department of Bouches-du-Rhone was the metropolitan department the most affected.
As mentioned earlier, children are also at risk of violence, and according to different commissions specialized in sexual crime against minors, it appeared that children were mostly victims of someone in their close circle or even in their own family. Incest, specifically, remains a taboo within French society. Unlike in German or Danish law, in French law, the incestuous act itself does not represent a crime, but only an aggravating circumstance of another crime such as sexual assault or rape. Finally, similar to cases of women victims of sexual and domestic violence, in cases of child victims of sexual crimes, the number of convictions was very low compared to the number of crimes committed.
Finally, drug trafficking was fuelled by strong demand. According to the French Observatory of Drugs and Addictions, there were around five million cannabis users and 600,000 cocaine users in France. Therefore, narcotraffic, the first criminal market in the country, represents an important part of France’s parallel economy and contributes to the country’s GDP. In addition, the Office of Anti-narcotics (OFAST) estimated that 240,000 people live directly or indirectly on drug trafficking, and 21,000 of them even work full-time.
Violent crime and property crime
Overall, France's intentional homicide rate has slightly decreased over the past decade, with 1.14 incidents per 100,000 inhabitants recorded in 2021. However, the year 2015 registered a peak with 1.59 incidents recorded. In 2022, compared to other European countries, France had the 10th-highest homicide rate, far ahead of its direct neighbors Switzerland, Italy, or Spain.On the other hand, property crimes such as theft, have decreased in the past years. For instance, around 173,000 auto thefts were recorded in 2013 and only 140,000 in 2023. However regional differences were easily visible, with more thefts happening in the Paris region than elsewhere in France. On the other hand, concerning burglaries, the southeast department of Bouches-du-Rhone was the metropolitan department the most affected.
Crime against women and children
However, it seemed that violence did not always come from the outside, especially for women and children. Among the 959 homicides recorded by the police services in France in 2022, 145 were committed within couples, and in that configuration, most victims were women. In addition, nearly one-third of these victims of femicide had already suffered physical or psychological violence from their partners. Women were also more at risk when it came to sexual crime, with more than 34,000 cases of rape recorded by the police only for the year 2022. Yet, even in a post-#metoo era where women’s speech is freer and when more crimes are reported, in most cases of sexual or domestic violence, France’s justice was more likely to abandon the case, mostly because of a lack of evidence, rather than prosecute the perpetrator of the crime.As mentioned earlier, children are also at risk of violence, and according to different commissions specialized in sexual crime against minors, it appeared that children were mostly victims of someone in their close circle or even in their own family. Incest, specifically, remains a taboo within French society. Unlike in German or Danish law, in French law, the incestuous act itself does not represent a crime, but only an aggravating circumstance of another crime such as sexual assault or rape. Finally, similar to cases of women victims of sexual and domestic violence, in cases of child victims of sexual crimes, the number of convictions was very low compared to the number of crimes committed.
Drug crime
Since 2020, crimes and offenses related to drug use and drug trafficking increased gradually in France, and unlike its German neighbor, France chose the path of repression rather than legalization. In early 2023 Minister of Interior, Gerald Darmanin implemented an important operation on the entire French territory, named Place nette, to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking, especially cocaine, and against the violence generated by it. According to the police forces' estimations, in 2023, 315 homicides were directly related to drug trafficking, among which 48 were committed in Marseille. The second largest French city, known as the "French capital of drugs" since the 1930s, when drug sponsors, Corsican and Italian, developed heroin trafficking in the city and created the famous (or infamous) French connection. However, in recent years, it appears that medium-sized towns are starting to be impacted too. Grenoble and its suburbs, in the southeast of France, suffered several shootings in August 2023, all related to a turf war between gangs.Finally, drug trafficking was fuelled by strong demand. According to the French Observatory of Drugs and Addictions, there were around five million cannabis users and 600,000 cocaine users in France. Therefore, narcotraffic, the first criminal market in the country, represents an important part of France’s parallel economy and contributes to the country’s GDP. In addition, the Office of Anti-narcotics (OFAST) estimated that 240,000 people live directly or indirectly on drug trafficking, and 21,000 of them even work full-time.
