Night-time streets off-limits for youth in France's Guadeloupe. Here's why
Youth, gang
In France's Guadeloupe city, on Thursday (Apr 18) a nighttime curfew was ordered for minors after a surge of violence in the overseas territory.
Are the children in danger?
Apparently, it is the other way around. Guadeloupe city, which is located more than 7,000 kilometres (4,349.6 miles) from mainland France, as per local authorities, has six times more homicides and 20 times more armed robberies than the national average. AFP reports that youth are increasingly involved in these crimes.
In March, describing the city as "cut-throat," Pointe-a-Pitre mayor Harry Durimel revealed that "minors previously made up 12 per cent of those who committed crimes, but now they account for 38 per cent."
Announcing the nighttime curfew, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said: "We can't let 12, 13, 14-year-olds with weapons roam the streets at 10:00 pm, attacking police officers, tourists and passers-by".
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The curfew
Starting next week, youth under 18 will have to follow an 8:00 pm curfew. This curfew will last for two months.
Pointe-a-Pitre's mayor Durimel said that he hoped this curfew would help security on the Caribbean island—one of France's many overseas territories spanning the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans.
"If children are at their parents' at night, they're not going to burn 70 garbage cans like they did in Pointe-a-Pitre last week," he added.
Along with the curfew, Darmanin also announced measures like increased video surveillance to tackle drugs and street weapons, which he said was "without a doubt the main problem facing Guadeloupe today".
Reportedly, the interior minister was assaulted by a youth as he arrived at a local television station to record an interview after announcing the curfew. A young man in his 20s asked to talk to Darmanin and, when the minister extended his hand, allegedly grabbed him by the shoulders and arms. Quickly reacting, the security pulled the young man back, who was arrested, witnesses told AFP. The minister was not hurt in the encounter.
(With inputs from agencies)
