Unfortunately, there is crime in all countries of the world, and special state bodies are needed that would prevent destructive activities in society. The French Republic is no exception. Each country in the world has its own system of internal and external security. The French police are the most important body of the executive apparatus and the entire law enforcement system of the country. In addition to the police in French society, there is a separate category of employees called the “gendarmes”. All these bodies carry out law enforcement activities in the Republic daily.
National Gendarmerie of France
Translated from French, “gens d'armes” are people who have weapons with them. The French gendarmerie is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense and is called upon to ensure the internal protection of the country and its heritage. Also, this state body ensures the safety of the country's president and members of the Cabinet. State important facilities are also guarded by gendarmerie units.
A feature of the structure of the national internal military police is the presence in it of a research institute for forensic and forensic expertise. As part of this research institute, various developments in the field of safety and security are being implemented and applied.
The French National Gendarmerie follows the orders of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Defense.
French police uniform
The everyday form of the French policeman is designed to distinguish the representative of the law among the masses. It is not flashy, has a blue color and police stripes.
As for the parade uniform, the French gendarmerie has very festive and colorful outfits. Initially, this body was a kind of mounted police, so these roots can be traced in the appearance of the gendarmes.
The dark blue tunic has bright red twists, and the white belt blends perfectly with shoulder straps. As you can see, the parade uniform of the French policeman is made up of the colors of the national flag of the country, which emphasizes the patriotic nature of the unit. A hat in the form of a cylindrical cap creates a more spectacular look. Blue trousers with stripes tucked into boots. For more than 20 years, the gendarmes' uniforms have not changed.
Police and gendarmerie: differences and features
Many believe that the police and the gendarmerie are one and the same state body. These separate parts of the French apparatus have a number of differences.
The French police is a purely civilian formation. It is designed to ensure order in society. To become a policeman it is necessary to write a special competitive exam, the result of which is a selection in a specialized institution. There, the future employee is trained for about six months.
The gendarmerie, in turn, has police functions. However, its activities are aimed at the armed defense of the country. An analogue of this body in the Russian Federation is the internal troops. There is a specialized Academy for gendarmes, which provides advanced training and retraining. Unlike a policeman, a representative of the gendarmerie must undergo training for a period of 2 years.
Threat Activities
Unfortunately, in recent years a series of terrorist attacks took place in France. These terrible events claimed the lives of many people. However, if not for the activities of the valiant police of France, then the victims could have been even greater. The police searched for the perpetrators of the attacks, and also carried out together with the gendarmerie to protect the country's population from new incidents.
According to the French press, recently law enforcement agencies have increased the level of protection at railway facilities, claiming that attackers are preparing to focus on this infrastructure. The French police also pay special attention to schools and educational institutions where the risk of a terrorist attack is quite high.
The example of France’s law enforcement agencies was followed by other European countries. Prevention of terrorist acts today is the primary national security task.