“The 14th like Calvados, the 14th. The 5th. I repeat, the 5th”. In the André Blot room, the host’s voice resonates for the traditional Christmas lottery which is sold out, with fifty prizes up for grabs. A few meters away, around thirty bowlers play it like in Provence and try out the jack in the middle of December on the covered pétanque court. Such is life on this Wednesday afternoon in the peaceful town of La Bouëxière, 25 kilometers northeast of Rennes. “It seems like that, but it’s not so peaceful,” slips Alain, a retiree from the village.
For several months, this rural town of just over 4,500 inhabitants has been going through a troubled period. The fault lies with around ten teenagers from the town who wreak havoc after dark on weekends and during school holidays. It started with tags and noise pollution with the roar of scooters in the middle of the night. Then there were damages, thefts and intrusions into municipal buildings. Until that night from October 31 to November 1, when the new sports hall which was going to be inaugurated was vandalized with the front door torn off and firecrackers thrown into the locker rooms. The result is damage estimated at more than 50,000 euros.
“Young people have nothing to do outside in the evening”
The last straw for the mayor who, after trying to dialogue with these young people and their families, decided to take action. And not just half. On Saturday, during the municipal council, Stéphane Piquet announced the establishment of a curfew for unaccompanied minors under 15 years old. A shocking measure which surprises especially by its duration, since it will be in force for the Christmas holidays and well beyond. “The limitation of nighttime outings [est] established from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. until March 16, 2025 inclusive,” we can read in the decree displayed on the pediment of the town hall. If they were to defy the ban, minors, and especially their families, will have to pay a fine of 150 euros.
Following his momentum, the elected official, who did not respond to our requests, also issued an order to prohibit the circulation of scooters and small motorcycles at night in certain sectors of the town. In the town of La Bouëxière, this tightening of the screws decided by the mayor is of course causing a stir. But not many people complain about it. “It doesn’t shock me, we have to at least try to see if it helps ease tensions,” emphasizes Anaëlle. Thierry even finds that the mayor was not strict enough. “It had to take 21 hours or 22 hours,” he assures us. Young people have nothing to do outside in the evening anyway. It’s also the fault of the parents who let their kids do anything.”
A difficult measure to enforce
In everyone’s opinion, life is good in La Bouëxière, where delinquency remains much lower than in urban areas. “With this curfew, we have the impression of living in a bad neighborhood even though it’s quiet here,” smiles Nathanaël, 17 years old. But maybe that can reassure the older ones.” For Solène, “this remains the stupidity of young people as there has always been”. “But it’s true that they took the stupidity very far, so we had to crack down to prevent the situation from getting worse,” continues the young mother, who knows the young troublemakers firsthand. “They are not big bad guys, just young people who come from disadvantaged families with parents who have given up a little,” she assures.
If the measure is rather well accepted in the municipality, many wonder about its effectiveness. “How can these decrees be applied knowing that there is no longer a municipal police officer in the town and that the gendarmerie is located in the neighboring town of Liffré? », Underlines Sylvain Hardy, leader of the opposition. “I am not convinced that this will be respected and there will be no one to check anyway,” says Emmanuelle. But it doesn’t cost anything to try, maybe it will make some people think and make parents more responsible and it will bring calm.” This is the wish of the town hall, which hopes that this electric shock will allow “residents to continue to live in a pleasant living environment for all”.
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