Delinquency: almost all crimes and misdemeanors on the rise in 2022 – France

At the end of the health crisis, almost all crimes and offenses increased last year, according to the report of the statistical service of the Ministry of the Interior (SSMSI) published on Tuesday.

Intra-family (+17%) and sexual (+11%) violence are among the facts that have increased the most in 2022. These increases have been “very marked” for four years for intra-family violence and continuous “over the decade with an acceleration since 2017” for sexual violence. They are explained by “the improvement of the conditions for the reception of victims by the security services” and by the phenomenon of “freedom of speech” in the wake of the Weinstein affair and the #MeToo movement, notes the SSMSI .

Among the other facts showing strong growth in 2022: intentional assault and battery outside the family setting (+14%) and scams (+8%). Homicides are also on the rise (948, or 69 more victims than in 2021, according to still provisional data).

Home burglaries (+11%) or vehicle thefts (+9%) are on the rise again, after “declining sharply” during the covid-19 epidemic and confinements. However, these offenses remain “below their pre-crisis level, with the exception of thefts of accessories from vehicles”, further specifies the SSMSI.

Drugs on the rise

The number of defendants for narcotics use has also increased “again very significantly”, (+13%, after +38% in 2021, following the introduction of fixed criminal fines). The number of people accused of drug trafficking is also on the rise (+4%, after +13% in 2021).

Among all the crimes and misdemeanors recorded, only violent thefts without weapons are down (-4%), continuing a “regular decrease that began in 2013”.

The increase in delinquency is observed “in almost all regions or departments”, specifies the SSMSI. Some departments are nevertheless particularly affected by certain phenomena, such as Bouches-du-Rhône by the increase in thefts from vehicles, or the North by the increase in thefts of accessories from vehicles.

The entourage of the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, who regularly congratulates himself on his record in the fight against delinquency and who has made the fight against drug trafficking one of his priorities, reacted very quickly. to the publication of these figures.

“The anti-narcotics activity is still just as dynamic and sustained,” commented the entourage.

“If thefts without violence, burglaries or thefts related to vehicles show increases, we observe a real reversal of the trend in the second half”, also defended the entourage of the minister, seeing it as an effect of the additional presence. public order forces, in particular mobile forces deployed in certain departments.

The annual report of the SSMSI is established from two types of data: facts recorded by the police and gendarmes (complaints, reports, etc.) and victimization surveys, which make it possible to enrich the facts recorded by the forces of the order, since the victims do not always lodge a complaint.