A total of 2,330,566 crimes were recorded for the year, up 8.51 percent from the previous year and up 39.10 percent from 1972. Major crimes such as armed robbery increased 9.22 percent over the previous year and 130.98 percent since 1972. Increases were greatest for racketeering and drug trafficking. Moderately serious crimes increased by 10.96 percent over 1978, with the greatest increases for counterfeiting, payment fraud, and violence against officials. Petty crimes were up 8.09 percent from 1978. Increases were most pronounced for vandalism, drug use, and thefts from trailers. Of the total number of offenders, minors made up 15.37 percent and foreigners 15.53 percent. The clearance rate for offenses was 9.05 percent. The clearance rates vary widely for various types of crime, with low rates for almost all types of robbery. Offense rates varied widely in the different geographic regions, but the highest rates for crimes of all degrees of seriousness were recorded for the Paris region; 54.11 percent of the crimes are concentrated in 10 percent of the territory and 28 percent of the population, with the urban areas most endangered. Crime for profit remained the most common type (86.96 percent) but stable, while the number of violent crimes rose faster than the average crime rate. Moderate level crimes increased more rapidly than either very serious or petty crimes. The results of recent studies show that the recent course of crime and of serious offenses in particular has little to do with public feelings of insecurity and that the level of fear of crime is not in any case excessive. In the future, crime rates are expected to continue high for robbery, burglary, and petty crimes such as automobile theft. To control crime, emphasis should be placed on preventive activities and information campaigns. Tables are supplied.