Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez delivered some striking figures on Friday regarding crime in the Paris metropolitan area. According to him, 36% of those accused are of foreign nationality, a rate down from 41% a few years ago. However, this figure still reveals a worrying situation: foreigners are responsible for one in two burglaries and violent robberies, 40% of sexual violence and nearly 90% of pickpocketing. "The figures are what they are," he said, while avoiding establishing a direct link with immigration.
Despite an overall decrease of 9,69% in property crimes and 3,23% in physical violence in 2024, some indicators remain worrying. The number of homicides in Paris has jumped by 36%, and sexual violence has increased by more than 10%. Laurent Nuñez nevertheless praised the efforts of the police, particularly in the fight against burglaries and home-jackings, which have decreased by 11%. He also stressed that 43% of cases are solved, a rate that he considers satisfactory.
The effect of the 2024 Paris Olympics has brought a temporary lull. During this period, pickpocketing and violent robberies fell by 15% to 24% respectively in the metropolitan area. However, this decline does not mask the challenges ahead: the average age of young people involved in gang clashes is now 15 years and 9 months, evidence of entrenched juvenile delinquency.
On the issue of drug trafficking, Laurent Nuñez praises the "very determined" method of Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, which has led to record seizures: 53,5 tonnes of cocaine were intercepted in 2024, an increase of 130% compared to the previous year. These figures are attributed to increased coordination between services, and the establishment of a national prosecutor's office dedicated to the fight against organised crime.
While crime remains structurally high, Nuñez concludes by promising to continue efforts to eradicate this scourge, while recognizing that the task is still immense.
