Amid growing concerns about the safety of minors, several cities in France are considering the implementation of a night curfew for adolescents under 13 years of age. The proposal would restrict the presence of children on the streets from 11 at night to 6 in the morning.

While some town councils have already implemented this measure, others such as Nice plans to adopt it on May 1. From the city council of this coastal city they argue that the curfew is necessary to protect young people from the growing influence of crime and drugs. The mayor, Christian Estrosi, affirms that “mafias use minor networks for their illicit activities.”

However, not everyone agrees with this measure. Some parents express concern about the educational role that the City Council assumes by imposing restrictions on their children’s departure times. “I’m not convinced that the City Council takes an educational role,” says one of the residents.

In other cities, such as Cagnes-sur-Mer, where the curfew has been in force for more than two decadess, municipal officials argue that the measure has helped raise awareness among parents about the importance of supervising their children’s nighttime activities. “This indicates that parents have done what was necessary since then,” says Louis Nègre, mayor of Cagnes-sur-Mer.

Meanwhile, in Beziersthe far-right mayor has implemented a curfew in only three neighborhoods considered the most conflictive. This decision has further fueled the controversy surrounding the measure, highlighting the different positions on how to address the problem of the safety of minors in the country.