News : Is Paris Safe These Days?

Despite all the media hype, the situation here in Paris is quiet and it is "business as usual".

The portraying of Paris as a city under civil strife is simply untrue.

The mass media simply blurred the geographical lines between Paris and its suburbs.  Paris remains Paris, nevertheless. Paris is not its suburbs.

In the last 2 weeks Paris has only seen two isolated instances of hooliganism within its walls. Both incidents did not last more than 1/2 hour.

Why is Paris quiet when the suburbs aren't?

For one thing, the police force in Paris is strong, well armed, and very efficient in its interventions. Suburban thugs rarely look for trouble in Paris as they know full well they would be promptly arrested, and thrown in jail.

Secondly, Paris is rich, and does not face any of the problems afflicting certain suburban areas. To put it bluntly, the troublemakers do not live in Paris: they can't afford the cost of housing.

So Paris has remained very quiet throughout the recent events. You are and will be perfectly safe in Paris. Probably even safer than usual since more policemen are patrolling the streets.

To their credit, the media correctly reported that the commotion is now receding: the troublemakers are being neutralized by the police and the army. They will be brought to justice. Count on the French government to do just that.

As far as you are concerned, there is no need for you to cancel your travel plans. There was no civil strife in Paris in the first place.