Sexual violence up 77% in June in France, drug arrests decline
Figures for June published by the Interior Ministry reveal a surge in recorded sexual violence, in the wake of the Lyhanna case.
Delinquency in June: sexual violence surges, drug trafficking less prosecuted
Crime statistics for June, published by the Interior Ministry, reveal contrasting developments, reports europe1.fr. Sexual violence recorded by law enforcement increased by 77 per cent over that month alone, whilst arrests for drug trafficking fell by 13 per cent.
This spectacular increase in sexual violence is explained by two distinct factors. On the one hand, since the Lyhanna case, police and gendarmerie have been instructed to prioritise reports of sexual violence against minors, which led to the re-examination and proper re-registration of many earlier proceedings. This consolidation work mechanically inflated the statistics. On the other hand, according to the statistical service of Place Beauvau, the media coverage of the Lyhanna case encouraged some victims to file complaints, including for old incidents.
This reorientation of police priorities is not without consequence for other areas of the fight against crime. The number of people involved in drug trafficking fell by 13 per cent in June, the sharpest decline among the indicators recorded. This indicator directly reflects the level of activity of law enforcement on this front.
Furthermore, the figures reveal a worrying increase in homicides: +37 per cent between April and June compared with the previous quarter. Since the beginning of 2025, the number of homicide victims has increased by 8 per cent, which corresponds, according to the ministry, to one murder every seven hours on French territory.
These figures feed the concerns of several security actors, who emphasise that the prioritisation of sexual violence against minors, whilst justified in the context of the Lyhanna case, results in less engagement on other forms of criminality.
Source: Google News FR — Crime (fr)