Hide these minors who cannot be seen. After the curfew put in place in Pointe-à-Pitre for those under 18, the executive’s turn of the screw towards young people, it is the turn of Béziers to establish an exit ban for those under 13 years old, between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. and in certain neighborhoods. The order published on Sunday will be effective until September 30. An idea welcomed by Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, who intends to follow suit and reinstate this provision already in force in his city between 2009 and 2020.
Contacted by 20 minutes, Robert Ménard is “convinced that 12-year-olds have no place, all alone, at two in the morning on the street”. “If they can represent a danger when there are several of them, even alone and aggressive, it is not only a repressive measure but one of protection for these minors abandoned by their parents,” argues the councilor close to the extreme right.
“It’s an identity collection, not a check”
From Sunday, the police will have to check if under-13s are wandering at night, unaccompanied by an adult, in the streets of Béziers. However, nothing looks more like a 13 year old than a 14 year old. Municipal agents or the national police will then have to carry out an age verification. “It’s an identity collection, not a check,” explains Frédéric Biedak, president of the national union of municipal police officers (DNPM). A “different approach with young people than with adults”, adds Bruno Bartocetti, national secretary of the SGP Police unit in charge of the southern zone.
How can we be sure that the person concerned gives their true age? “I immediately ask for the date of birth, if he lies in general he is wrong,” says the municipal police officer. In case of doubt, the authorities can also verify the age through a “proximity inquiry”. Concretely, by contacting the parents.
“But, even at 14, we should not wander the streets,” says Bruno Bartocetti. The latter then explains that protecting these young minors is already part of the police missions “even without a curfew”. “Our role is to bring them back to their parents and then trigger a social investigation,” he adds. “It seems so obvious to me that this curfew seems absurd, it’s part of our job,” he insists. We can’t let a 13 year old kid wander around, that’s logical. »
Robert Ménard believes that the job is “not done” in Béziers because “the police have other priorities”. From now on, “the municipal police will be obliged and that will reassure everyone”, both residents and parents, pleads the elected official.
“We play nanny”
“We play nanny when it should be the responsibility of the parents,” says Frédéric Biedak. Making rounds at night to track down young minors, children, should not be the responsibility of the authorities but of the family, according to the trade unionist who nevertheless considers that it is “necessary” when “the parents do not take proper care of » of their offspring. “I understand those who say “we are not nannies or social workers”, comments Bruno Bartocetti. When a 12-year-old boy is adrift, punishment must be the last link in public action. It should not be limited to the use of authority, it is a whole education that must be done around child protection. »
If the measure particularly targets those under 13, it is because they are considered “incapable of discernment” by the courts, explains the decree. “Under 13 years of age, they are not responsible, they benefit from immunity. We do not send these minors to prison,” explains Robert Ménard, who claims to note “an increase in this delinquency at younger and younger ages”. “Today, they take out knives when before they fought with their fists,” he continues, quoting police officers in his town.
Find out more about the curfew in Béziers
According to figures from the Ministry of Justice“4,800 minor perpetrators were prosecuted in 2022”, a number down 3.6% compared to 2021. Furthermore, according to the “first photograph of delinquency and insecurity in 2023”, published in early 2024 by the Ministry of Interior, those under 13 represented 2% of those accused of attacks on people and 1% of those accused of violent theft.