Tightening up on Law and order in France

[NormanH]

The French government is looking today at a number of proposals to tighten up in some areas:

http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2010/02/09/le-gouvernement-muscle-son-dispositif-securitaire_1303030_3224.html#ens_id=1272137

[nounours]

Congratulations on posting an article in French about France on this Forum.  It makes a lovely change to see what is happening in the place we or at least, some of us live and not have selected extracts from the UK media posted to satisfy the political obsessions of the posters.  More please Norman[:D]  Although please do not do a Pomhorn or you will have to be killed.[;-)]

[Clair]

[quote user="NormanH"]The French government is looking today at a number of proposals to tighten up in some areas:

http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2010/02/09/le-gouvernement-muscle-son-dispositif-securitaire_1303030_3224.html#ens_id=1272137[/quote]

Translation HERE

([:)])

[Tricia]

Sounds interesting, but why do they have to call it Loppsi? Sounds like a Beatrix Potter character.

One thing I noticed - more responsibilities for the Municipal Police - what is the difference between them and the Gendarmerie?

[Chancer]

Brice Hortefeux, le ministre de l'intérieur, avait promis de "bodybuilder" le projet: [:D][;-)]

Put the project on steroids perhaps until its balls shrink?

[Âme]

projet de Loi d'Orientation et de Programmation pour la Performance de la Sécurité Intérieure" (Loppsi)

it's Ploppsi at the moment [;-)][:)]

thx for posting the interesting link Norman

[NormanH]

"more responsibilities for the Municipal Police - what is the difference

between them and the Gendarmerie?"

The Gendarmes have a military structure and come under the Ministry of Defence. They often live in Barracks

They operate in rural areas.

The Police Nationale operate in cities and large towns and are under the Ministry of the Interior . They deal with crime and have several 'Directions'

The Police Municipale in large towns come under the Mayor, and deal with things like parking

[woolybanana]

Norman, has the Gendarmerie not recently been transferred to the control of the Home Secretary?

[NormanH]

[quote user="woolybanana"]Norman, has the Gendarmerie not recently been transferred to the control of the Home Secretary?[/quote]

Yes  I belive you are right. I think it was during last year.

However on the website in English it says  (and I think it is out of date)  "

ORGANISATION The French Gendarmerie is placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Defence. However, a goverment decree dated May 15, 2002 sets out that the ministère de l'Intérieur (Home Office in French) is responsible for the use of the French Gendarmerie powers, as far as interior security missions are concerned..."

At the same time they remain a military organisation..see:

http://www.defense.gouv.fr/gendarmerie/votre_espace/contents_in_english/introduction/introduction

[g8vkv]

Around here we have "Police Rurale", which I hadn't seen before coming to live in the sticks.

[woolybanana]

Well, whatever happens, the police need to review their ethics as some of them seem to be getting out of hand.

Yesterday three 14 year olds were arrested and held under arrest in cells for nine hours interrogated, threatened and verbally abused.

[NormanH]

Envoyé Speciale the other  night went into a lot of detail about 3 cases where the police or gendarmes seem to have gone over the top when dealing with Minors:

http://envoye-special.france2.fr/index-fr.php?page=reportage&id_rubrique=1355

[woolybanana]

Yes, invading a school with dogs and subjecting students to humilitating searches without permission, amongst other things.

But I am not sure if it was gendarmes or local police in whom I would have a little less confidence.

But then I have experience of the Belgians!

[woolybanana]

"La strategie de la peur pour dominé" -said my Madame Miterrand this evening, just about sums up what is going on in the forces de l'ordre.

The *hit is really hitting the fan on French TV. Lots of anger and a feeling that enough is enough.

[PaulT]

[quote user="woolybanana"]Well, whatever happens, the police need to review their ethics as some of them seem to be getting out of hand. Yesterday three 14 year olds were arrested and held under arrest in cells for nine hours interrogated, threatened and verbally abused.[/quote]

A bit different to the UK where the police would have been threatened and verbally abused by 14 year olds (or even younger).

Paul