The National Gendarmerie is one of two national law enforcement forces of France, along with the National Police. The Gendarmerie is a branch of the French Armed Forces placed under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior, with additional duties from the Ministry of Armed Forces. Its responsibilities include policing smaller towns, suburbs and rural areas, crowd and riot control, criminal investigation, including cybercrime. By contrast, the National Police is a civilian law enforcement agency that is in charge of policing cities and larger towns. Because of its military status, the Gendarmerie also fulfills a range of military and defence missions. The Gendarmerie has a strength of around 102,269 people.
A Gendarme d'élite de la Garde Impériale
Gendarmes on patrol
Cavalry of the Garde républicaine
The French Republican Guard is part of the National Gendarmerie and provides security as guards of honour during official ceremonies.
The National Police, formerly known as the Sûreté nationale, is one of two national police forces of France, the other being the National Gendarmerie. The National Police is the country's main civil law enforcement agency, with primary jurisdiction in cities and large towns. By contrast, the National Gendarmerie has primary jurisdiction in smaller towns, as well as in rural and border areas. The National Police comes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior and has about 145,200 employees. Young French citizens can fulfill their mandatory service in the police force.
Colour guard of the General Directorate of the National Police, 2013 Bastille Day parade, Paris
SP 2022, the present standard issued sidearm of French police officers.
Intervention in 2020 of a police team in Courbevoie. Policemen are equipped with tasers.
Peugeot 308