Some departements have witnessed a 20-per-cent increase in violent crime since last year. According to figures published by the interior ministry, nearly 20 gendarmes were attacked across the country each day in 2020.

Public security in France is deteriorating, with stats on violent crime breaking negative records each year, and 2020 was no exception, either.

According to a report by the French interior ministry s Statistical Department (SSMI), the situation is worst in the areas overseen by the gendarmes that saw an 8% increase in crime and violence. Some departements, however, have reported even worse figures. Crime in Ille-et-Vilaine, west of France, surged by 20% in 2020, compared to the year earlier. Crime has also risen by a staggering 15 per cent in Gironde, Marne, Calvados and Vendee departements.

A prefect in the south of France told Le Figaro that most of the violence was domestic in nature, adding that riots were also common and that there s a growing number of people who refuse to comply with police during inspections. While the number of burglaries decreased significantly during the two quarantine periods – by 44 per cent in March and April, and 51 per cent in November and December – violence in areas controlled by the gendarmes rose by about 10 per cent since last year. In rural areas, the number of attempted homicides and murders has increased by a whopping 15 per cent, but the fact that an average of 20 gendarmes were assaulted each day across France is perhaps even more shocking.

The most recent tragedy took place on 23 December in a village 180 kilometres from Lyon, in Puy-de-Dome departement. After police received a call regarding a domestic violence incident, the arriving gendarmes were attacked by a 48-year-old man, who threatened to kill his wife. Armed with a gun, he shot dead three gendarmes and severely injured a fourth officer, who was rushed to hospital. The suspected killer was found dead later, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced on Twitter.

Le Figaro s article also reveals that the situation is better in zones overseen by police. Compared to last year, the number of abductions and arrests has increased by 15 per cent in zones controlled by the gendarmerie, while areas supervised by the police only saw a 3 per cent rise.

Figures for sexual violence are also better in areas under police control. While in 2020 there was a 7 per cent increase in incidents of sexual violence in zones overseen by police, zones supervised by the gendarmerie saw an 18 per cent rise in such cases. Authorities have registered nearly 12 thousand acts of violence, implying that these zones in France have witnessed over 30 acts of sexual violence a day last year.