In total, the police and the gendarmerie recorded 6,300 crimes or misdemeanors (+13%) and 6,200 fines (+26% compared to 2019) of a racist nature, designating acts committed “due to ethnicity, nation, so-called race or religion”.
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Racist, xenophobic and anti-religious crimes and offenses reported to law enforcement increased by 13% in 2021 compared to 2019, according to figures published Friday, March 11 by the Ministry of the Interior. The year 2019 was chosen as the reference year because the data for 2020 was distorted by the health crisis and the periods of confinement.
In total in 2021, the police and the gendarmerie recorded 6,300 crimes or offenses (+13%) and 6,200 tickets (+26% compared to 2019) of a racist nature, designating acts committed “on account of ethnicity, nation, purported race or religion”. The study does not give details of the facts relating to anti-Christian, anti-Muslim or anti-Semitic acts. Four times out of five, it is insults, provocations or public defamation.
These data do not represent “only a small part of the facts of a racist nature suffered” by the victims, who do not report these attacks to the police, underlines the ministry. According to the “Living environment and security” survey, between 2013 and 2018, only a quarter of victims of racist threats or physical violence and 5% of victims of racist insults, on average, said they had filed a complaint.
The victims of racist crimes and offenses (5,720) are mainly men aged 25 to 54, with an over-representation of foreigners from an African country. In proportion to the population, more victims file complaints in the north and east of France than in the west, the Massif Central and overseas territories (excluding Guadeloupe and Mayotte).
If you are the victim of a racist or anti-Semitic act, you can call the government help line on 08 842 846 37 (7 days a week, non-surcharged number).