Is France a dangerous place?

Charlotte Dall’Orso
Sales assistant, La-Ville-Dieu-du-Temple

I don’t think that France is more dangerous than anywhere else. All countries have security problems and I’m not ever afraid to go outside. I live in a quiet little town, so I can’t talk for people who live in cities like Paris. I can understand why people living in Paris would want increased security on buses when it is possible that they could be attacked.

I don’t think in a small town like the one I live in that we need CCTV, although in cities I can see it would be necessary. I believe that we do need cameras in cities - if someone is attacked we need to see who committed the crime. I expect that having cameras everywhere is the future and that they can help to improve security.

Frédéric Bacou
Hotel owner, Lauzerte

I do not believe that France has become more dangerous. Safety problems are mainly located in major cities where there is overcrowding or an overpopulation of people out of work or people lacking qualifications or future goals.

Monitoring networks with cameras can help reduce violence against people but can also move the problems to neighbourhoods that are less well-equipped.

Greater police presence can help to reduce crime, but it is necessary to try different strategies. I doubt that the French state has the means to train and pay many more police officers.

Isabelle Favrot
Stable owner, Lauzerte

In my opinion France is not more dangerous these days.

In the countryside we still live in the same way - we leave the key under the mat and our houses are open and welcoming. This amazing way of life remains the same.

The city centres are safer than they were because of the presence of police and surveillance cameras, but the suburbs are experiencing problems. The political powers have disturbed the criminals in the cities and they then seek out revenge.

The media likes to report drama, which increases the impression that our country is unsafe.

Gaël Steinbach
Sales manager, Mirabel

I used to live in Paris and I’m still alive but I don’t think people are any different here or in the city - although the city is more dangerous.

It is just that there is more space in rural areas and less in cities and people there spend a lot of time on public transport.

France is one of the least dangerous countries in the world and in my opinion we don’t need more cameras, even though they are going to be everywhere in the future.

Wherever there are human beings people will commit crimes. I don’t think that cameras will help. We have to educate to change things.

We should have more schools and teachers, not more cameras.