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THE FRENCH GENDARMERIE

An example of a military force involved in the


homeland security

Chef d’escadron (Major) Etienne Ignatovitch


General directorate of the national gendarmerie

PMSC Workshop on defence policy & strategy


Geneva 29-30 september 2003
THE
FRENCH
NATIONAL
GENDARMERIE
THE NATIONAL GENDARMERIE

-A MILITARY FORCE (BELONGING TO THE MINISTRY OF


DEFENSE) ATTACHED FOR ITS EMPLOYMENT TO THE HOME
AFFAIRS MINISTRY

-A TOTAL STRENGTH OF 100,000 MEN AND WOMEN

- JURISDICTION ON THE WHOLE TERRITORY AND ON THE


ARMIES

- A FORCE WHOSE MAIN ACTIVITY IS OF A CIVILIAN NATURE


( ADMINISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL POLICE )
10 %
CIVIL DEFENCE 50 % Military missions
- Intelligence - Military police
- Intelligence
- Public order
- reserves
(maintaining
and restoring) - Security of nuclear forces
- Military defence
- Specialized police units
(for immigrants,
environment,...)

- Civil protection
(assistance, ...)

- Reporting offences (crimes,


JUDICIAL POLICE offences and fines)
- Gathering evidence
40% - Searching offenders
Departmental Gendarmerie
65,000 men and women
MAIN MISSIONS
- PREVENTION, PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE
-TERRITORY SURVEILLANCE
- MILITARY, ADMINISTRATIVE, JUDICIAL POLICE
95% of the territory
50% of the population
1 million crimes and
offences reported
Mobile Gendarmerie
17,000 men deployable on the
homeland including
overseas territories and
external missions

NATIONAL TRAINING
CENTRE
CNEFG – SAINT ASTIER
Specialized units
• GSIGN

!GIGN (antiterrorist intervention unit)


!GSPR (presidency protection unit)
!EPIGN (parachutist intervention squadron)
• GBGM (armored squadrons)
• CBRN INTERVENTION SQUADRONS
• ROAD TRAFFIC MOTORISED UNITS
• MOUNTAIN UNITS (rescue and investigations)
• COAST GUARDS UNITS
•HELICOPTER UNITS
• POTHOLING UNITS (or caver units)
Specialized formations

• LA GARDE RÉPUBLICAINE
• THE AIR TRANSPORTS GENDARMERIE
• THE AIR FORCE GENDARMERIE
• THE NAVY GENDARMERIE
• THE ARMAMENT GENDARMERIE
• THE NUCLEAR FACILITIES GENDARMERIE
The French National gendarmerie facing the crisis
PEACETIME CRISIS MAJOR CRISIS PEACE WAR
KEEPING
Traffic Judicial Maintenance Hostae Restoration of On the
Policing Calamities Of order overseas
Terrorism territory
accident investigation situation order

ARMY - AIR FORCE - NAVY


ARMY - AIR FORCE - NAVY

POLICE

GENDARMERIE

!
!- DEPARTMENTAL GENDARMERIE (80 000 persons)
!- MOBILE GENDARMERIE (17 000 persons)
!- RESERVE (50 000 persons)
« La sécurité intérieure et la sécurité
extérieure doivent former un tout (…) la
gendarmerie, forte de son statut militaire,
illustre bien cette continuité nécessaire de
notre action. Elle représente le trait
d’union entre les efforts civils et
militaires »

M. Jean Pierre RAFFARIN,


premier ministre
IHEDN septembre 2002

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