French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has said that the criminal response to the riots and looting must be “extremely firm.” Otherwise, he warned, shop owners and residents will “take justice into their own hands.”
The minister made the remarks on Tuesday, 20 October, during a visit to Lille, where he met with magistrates and discussed the justice system’s response to the weekend’s events. According to AFP, Darmanin justified the need for a tough approach precisely by the threat of shopkeepers and residents taking the law into their own hands.
The statement came against the backdrop of mass protests on 17 October against the rising cost of living, which quickly escalated into riots, arson and looting across the country. According to the minister, around 3,000 shops were looted and hundreds of police officers and firefighters were injured. The authorities acknowledged that security was not ensured that night.
Darmanin had earlier demanded that all prosecutors in France show “maximum severity” and be “merciless” toward rioters and looters. He issued instructions to classify the acts as organised crime. This allows police custody to be extended from 48 to 72 hours and enables the use of geolocation, wiretapping and, in some cases, facial recognition. The minister stressed that the French people want “extreme firmness” and instructed prosecutors to appeal sentences that are not sufficiently harsh.
The number of arrests and convictions is rising rapidly. Since Saturday, more than 2,500 people have been placed in police custody, a significant proportion of them adults. By the morning of 20 October, according to Darmanin, around 123–149 people had been imprisoned. Dozens of judicial investigations have been opened, and the first sentences have already been handed down — up to several years in prison, including immediate detention.
The minister also acknowledged that the authorities “undeniably failed” over the weekend, pointing to intelligence shortcomings, particularly regarding ultra-left groups. At the same time, he opposed the introduction of a state of emergency, saying that all French people should not be deprived of their freedoms because of a few thousand offenders.
Darmanin promised help for affected shopkeepers: compensation for damages, assistance with filing complaints, and work with commercial courts. The visit to Lille was part of this approach — supporting victims while delivering a tough criminal response.
