The fresh data published by the French statistical agency INSEE, as quoted by Fdesouche, uncover a disturbing image of force on French public transport. In Paris, as much as 64 percent of violent robberies, physical and sexual assaults are committed by foreigners, of which 43 percent by people of North African descent, even though this group accounts for only 3.4 percent of the population of the region.
The scale of this imbalance raises serious questions about the effectiveness of migration policy, public safety and the consequences of the deficiency of cultural data in authoritative statistics.
France does not collect information on the race or cultural origin of its citizens, and any individual who becomes French citizenship is automatically classified as French, regardless of the country of origin or the migratory context. This means that data on foreigners only takes into account those who do not have French citizenship, which in turn hides the possible impact of the second and 3rd generations of immigrants on crime statistics. Despite these limitations, numbers are shocking. Across France, 41 percent of violent sexual assaults and crimes in public transport in 2024 were committed by foreigners. In this group, 19 percent were visitors from North Africa.
The population of foreigners in France is about 5.2 million people, 7.7% of the full population. Of these, 44.4 percent come from Africa. Thus, specified a tiny proportion of demographics is clearly disproportionate in serious crimes. In the face of specified data, there are expanding calls for revisions of migration policy and for greater transparency and courage in analysing the consequences of uncontrolled immigration.
The problem does not end with robberies and assaults. Sexual force on French public transport has reached unprecedented levels. Data from the National Observatory on force against Women (MIPROF) show that sex crimes have increased by 86 percent over the last decade. As many as 70 percent of women surviving in Paris admit that they have suffered sexual harassment or assault in public transportation. This data is besides confirmed by the study of the Ministry of statistic for interior safety (SSMSI), which states that 91 percent of cases of sexual force are women. More worryingly, 75 percent are under the age of 30 and 36 percent are underage.
In 2024 alone, there were 3,374 cases of sexual force on public transport, an increase of 6 percent compared to the erstwhile year, 9 percent more than in 2022 and 86 percent more than in 2016. The most cases – 44 percent – occurred in the Paris region (Île-de-France). This only confirms that the capital, which is the center of social, tourist and economical life, is besides becoming the epicentre of the safety crisis, especially for women.
Similar trends are besides observed in Germany, where 59 percent of sex crimes on trains are committed by foreigners. Since 2019, the number of specified crimes has doubled in Germany, indicating a common European problem with the integration of migrants and their impact on public security. In France, studies show that 7 out of 10 women from the Île-de-France region have already suffered sexual force in their lifetime. This is dramatic data that force reflection on the quality of life of women in urban public spaces.
According to a survey cited by the French media, 56 percent of women admit that they are afraid of utilizing public transport in the Paris region, and as much as 80 percent declare that they are constantly in a state of readiness and vigilance while travelling. This means that most women moving around Paris function in a state of chronic anxiety. Not only does this affect their regular lives and comfort, but it puts the fundamental right to free movement and usage of public services under safe conditions.
The comments of the representatives of the authorities, specified as Maracineanu's statement, who said that the specified fact that a female changes her way or agenda of the day for fear of assault should be an alarm signal for the full of society, seems not to translate into concrete actions. The problem is systemic and profoundly rooted, and its sources lie not only in criminal policy, but besides in the approach to immigrant integration, police shortages, underfunded transport and the deficiency of adequate preventive tools.
In 2023, the French Interior Ministry reported that nearly half (48 percent) of all crimes in Paris were committed by foreigners. This data is hard to ignore, especially in the context of the progressive migration and evidence number of foreigners admitted in 2022 for Emmanuel Macron's presidency. According to a survey conducted for Le Figaro, 73 percent of the French believe that there are besides many immigrants in the country. This reflects the increasing social discontent and the feeling of losing control of migration policy.
There are more and more voices in the public debate that indicate that the current situation is not a consequence of single negligence, but of a long-term policy based on ignoring social realities and giving precedence to ideology over citizens' security. deficiency of political courage to admit that integration does not work as it should, and deficiency of transparency in statistics, makes the problem worse and citizens lose assurance in state institutions.
The data is hard and their explanation does not require expertise. With specified over-representation of foreigners in crime statistics, especially in the most serious categories of physical and sexual violence, it is hard to keep the communicative of the neutral impact of mass immigration on society. This is not about fear or stigmatisation of certain cultural groups, but about the request for reliable data analysis and for future lessons. A society where women are afraid to leave home or usage public transport cannot be considered free and equal.
Migration policy must be linked to the actual assessment of the state's ability to integrate visitors and keep public order. If the data indicate that a circumstantial social group – although in large numbers – has a importantly greater share in serious crimes, this cannot be ignored or closed eyes from fear of political correctness. safety debate cannot be taboo, especially erstwhile people's lives and wellness are at stake. If the strategy does not work, it should be changed.
