Latest news with #Darmanin
Local France
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Local France
France's prison population reaches all-time high
Over the past year, France's prison population grew by 6,000 inmates, taking the occupancy rate to 133.7 percent. The record overcrowding has even seen 23 out of France's 186 detention facilities operating at more than twice their capacity. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, who has called the overcrowding crisis "unacceptable", has suggested building new facilities to accommodate the growing prison population. The hardline minister announced in mid-May a plan to build a high-security prison in French Guiana -- an overseas territory situated north of Brazil -- for the most "dangerous" criminals, including drug kingpins. Prison overcrowding is "bad for absolutely everyone," said Darmanin in late April, citing the "appalling conditions" for prisoners and "the insecurity and violence" faced by prison officers. A series of coordinated attacks on French prisons in April saw assailants torching cars, spraying the entrance of one prison with automatic gunfire, and leaving mysterious inscriptions. The assaults embarrassed the right-leaning government, whose tough-talking ministers -- Darmanin and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau -- have vowed to step up the fight against narcotics. Advertisement And in late April, lawmakers approved a major new bill to combat drug-related crime, with some of France's most dangerous drug traffickers facing detention in high-security prison units in the coming months. France ranks among the worst countries in Europe for prison overcrowding, placing third behind Cyprus and Romania, according to a Council of Europe study published in June 2024.
Local Sweden
a day ago
- Politics
- Local Sweden
France's prison population reaches all-time high
France's prison population hit a record high on May 1, with 83,681 inmates held in facilities that have a capacity of just 62,570, justice ministry data showed on Saturday. Advertisement Over the past year, France's prison population grew by 6,000 inmates, taking the occupancy rate to 133.7 percent. The record overcrowding has even seen 23 out of France's 186 detention facilities operating at more than twice their capacity. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, who has called the overcrowding crisis "unacceptable", has suggested building new facilities to accommodate the growing prison population. The hardline minister announced in mid-May a plan to build a high-security prison in French Guiana -- an overseas territory situated north of Brazil -- for the most "dangerous" criminals, including drug kingpins. Prison overcrowding is "bad for absolutely everyone," said Darmanin in late April, citing the "appalling conditions" for prisoners and "the insecurity and violence" faced by prison officers. A series of coordinated attacks on French prisons in April saw assailants torching cars, spraying the entrance of one prison with automatic gunfire, and leaving mysterious inscriptions. The assaults embarrassed the right-leaning government, whose tough-talking ministers -- Darmanin and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau -- have vowed to step up the fight against narcotics. Advertisement And in late April, lawmakers approved a major new bill to combat drug-related crime, with some of France's most dangerous drug traffickers facing detention in high-security prison units in the coming months. France ranks among the worst countries in Europe for prison overcrowding, placing third behind Cyprus and Romania, according to a Council of Europe study published in June 2024.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
France's jails hit breaking point as inmate numbers soar past capacity
Representative Image (Getty Images) France's prison population reached a new high on May 1, with 83,681 inmates housed in facilities designed for only 62,570, according to data released by the justice ministry on Saturday. In the past year alone, the number of inmates in France has increased by 6,000, pushing the national occupancy rate to 133.7 percent. This unprecedented overcrowding has resulted in 23 of France's 186 detention centers operating at more than double their intended capacity. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, who has described the situation as "unacceptable," has proposed the construction of additional facilities to address the surge in inmate numbers. In mid-May, the minister unveiled plans for a new high-security prison in French Guiana — the overseas territory north of Brazil — intended for the most "dangerous" offenders, including drug lords. "Prison overcrowding is bad for absolutely everyone," Darmanin said in late April, referencing the "appalling conditions" endured by inmates and "the insecurity and violence" experienced by prison staff. April also witnessed a series of coordinated attacks on French prisons, with perpetrators setting cars ablaze, riddling a prison entrance with automatic gunfire, and leaving cryptic markings. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo The incidents embarrassed the government, particularly its hardline figures like Darmanin and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who have pledged to intensify efforts against narcotics. Later that month, lawmakers passed a sweeping new bill targeting drug-related crime, which will see some of the country's most dangerous traffickers placed in high-security prison units. A Council of Europe report published in June 2024 ranked France as one of the worst offenders in Europe for prison overcrowding, placing it third behind Cyprus and Romania.
Daily Tribune
7 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Ban cash: French minister coins novel idea to battle drug crime
AFP | Paris As France battles the scourge of drugs crime in its streets, a top minister has raised eyebrows by evoking stopping the use of cash entirely to discourage narcotics deals. 'How do we stop drugs from spreading in our neighbourhoods?' Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, a former interior minister and one of the most high-profile cabinet members, asked in a hearing with the upper house Senate on Thursday. 'There is a fairly simple measure -- the end of liquid cash would prevent the creation of points for drug dealing,' he added. Unlike in some other European countries, notably Nordic nations, cash remains a relatively essential part of daily life in France, with bakeries and cafes often setting a minimum payment before a card can be used. In an interview with RTL on Friday, Darmanin, who has expressed interest in standing in 2027 presidential elections, took care to clarify his comments while stopping short of disowning them. He said cash drug deals are worth 'between four and six billion euros' in France each year, of which only 'a few million euros' are seized by the authorities. Cash, he added, 'is what enables a large part of the functioning of organised crime, prostitution, and human trafficking.' But saying he was 'realistic,' Darmanin added that stopping cash was 'one of the responses but not the only one' to fighting drug crime, which has become an increasingly important political issue in France. 'It's a public debate that should undoubtedly be had in a presidential campaign, for example,' he said.
The Journal
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
French minister suggests banning cash to battle the country's drug crime
AS FRANCE BATTLES the scourge of drugs crime in its streets, a top minister has raised eyebrows by evoking stopping the use of cash entirely to discourage narcotics deals. 'How do we stop drugs from spreading in our neighbourhoods?' Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, a former interior minister and one of the most high-profile cabinet members, asked in a hearing with the upper house Senate on Thursday. 'There is a fairly simple measure – the end of liquid cash would prevent the creation of points for drug dealing,' he added. Unlike in some other European countries, notably Nordic nations, cash remains a relatively essential part of daily life in France, with bakeries and cafes often setting a minimum payment before a card can be used. In an interview with RTL on Friday, Darmanin, who has expressed interest in standing in 2027 presidential elections, took care to clarify his comments while stopping short of disowning them. Advertisement He said cash drug deals are worth 'between four and six billion euros' in France each year, of which only 'a few million euros' are seized by the authorities. Cash, he added, 'is what enables a large part of the functioning of organised crime, prostitution, and human trafficking.' But saying he was 'realistic' Darmanin, added that stopping cash was 'one of the responses but not the only one' to fighting drug crime, which has become an increasingly important political issue in France. 'It's a public debate that should undoubtedly be had in a presidential campaign, for example,' he said. Government spokeswoman Sophie Primas said while the issue had been 'put on the agenda by the minister of justice' it was 'not on the agenda of the government'. Cash still made up 43% of transactions in France last year, according to a study published in December 2024 by the European Central Bank. Liquid money is also important in the daily lives of older people and there are also concerns about what would happen in a cash-free country if payment systems suddenly went down.
