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Biking in France - Police vs. Gendarmerie.

Ever wondered why the french seem to have two police forces?



Well, the French split their country into areas. The large cities and towns have a regular police force which is very similar to our own here in the UK. You can be all shapes and sizes, you learn about law, and you get nice white vehicles to drive around in. These are the Police Nationale, a civilian police force.





Police Nationale Peugeot 307, Strasbourg


But in most of the rest of the country, you have the Gendarmerie.

These guys are very different to anything you will have come across in the UK. More of that in a moment, but lets see them first!







They look like blue policemen in blue vehicles, but they ain't!




To explain, they are 'a military force, charged with police duties' which make you think 'policmen', but no. Firstly they are all of military age and fitness, and when they are not out wearing blue, you begin to understand more about them.






Suddenly you realise that there is more to them than just playing policeman (woman)








They are very proud of their position, and also very well armed and equipped.



Some people really take convincing about why the Gendarmerie are so different to the police that we are used to in the UK. Study the picture below...








Nationale Gendarmerie training centre, Gendarmes (right), are training US marines (left).




Yes, the American Marines. They come to be trained in non-lethal forms of riot control.



SO, if you are visiting France and you have a problem, both the Police Nationale and the Gendarmes will do their best to help you. If you get stopped, then don't try to be clever an try to start an argument. Above all, do not try to run. The police will consider you as 'evading arrest' whereas the Gendamerie will consider you as 'sport' and 'fair game' They love nothing better than to put their training to practice, and they relish the chance to hunt you down. 'Boozy english lout' vs. a military trained and fit to hell Gendarme only has has one result.



So, be civil and they will help you as much as possible. [s]Be clever and cheeky, [/s]Just don't! Winding up people who train US marines, is not a preferable pastime.



Come visit France, it's nice, the people are friendly (as long as they don't think you are German in Brittany or Normandy) and there are many sights to see.

If you have questions or need help ask the police or Gendarme, and they will try their best to help you.







Tabellarius de verbis ostensor gaudium

You missed out the GIGN,groupe d'intervention de la gendarmerie nationale, (you really do not EVER want to have any dealing with them.)

So all these American quips about cheese-eating surrender monkeys are quickly brushed aside when they want some riot control training! Typical...



My own recent foray into Brittany for last weekend's rally in Questembert went OK (obviously no-one thought I was German). I would ride in France again quite happily and would recommend giving it a go, just remember to pay cash for your petrol (if possible)!



A.

Scalyback wrote:Yes, the American Marines. They come to be trained in non-lethal forms of riot control.

I imagine the concept of 'non lethal' takes some explaining, I almost feel sorry for the Gendarmes.

GIGN, I won't say anymore about them other than you are correct about dealing with them, unless you are with them.



A great bunch of guys, who play bloody hard. met a couple of times professionally, greatest respect.

There are also FOR (observation force search), the FI (intervention force), FSP (Security protection force), FAO (Force operation support) who specialise in explosives, logistics and 'special crafts'.



I think I was trying to say that it is similar to having the SAS and SBS also doing police duties, which is why I was suggesting that it is best to co-operate with them if stopped.

Of course, you do get the occasional strange picture surfacing in the same as with any similar type unit in any army...

My wife an i had an unscheduled overnight stop in Paris while on our way back from Rome and we decided to go out and see the sights. On our way back in a taxi at 3.30 in the morning we were suddenly surrounded by police cars and a van pulled up next to us - the door slid open and out popped 3 'Gendarmes' pointing semi automatics at us while giving us a good look over (all this while doing about 70kph). Put the wind up me and the missus but the taxi driver didn't even bat an eylid or even slowed down. Funny how having a gun pointed at you sticks in your memory!!

No need to pay cash for fuel these days.the vast majority of pumps now accept British credit and debit cards. I have been all over France on two or four wheels and haven't had a problem in paying by card for fuel in years. It used to be terrible; often nowhere was open on a Saturday pm or on Sundays but these days it's no problem.

There are even more types of police in Italy; they even have them to deal with VAT evasion...

Rattlebattle, it was no problem physically getting the petrol by debit card, what I wasn't expecting was for my account to be temporarily debited the maximum amount I could have spent at each pump. A quick call to my bank after checking my on-line account on return and finding the discrepancy was greeted by the question "and did you buy petrol on the card in France?", so it's a known issue - at least for the banks and the card companies. A.

Adrian

Well, all I can say is that it has never happened to me. Then again, I never use a debit card when abroad. I always use my Nationwide credit card because there is no transaction fee and the conversion rate will always be better than anything you or I could get buying currency. There has been an issue with (I think) some Esso pay@pumps used on Autoroutes not accepting British cards, but as a rule I find buying fuel in France by card no different to here. On the rare occasions that a pump doesn't accept it the cashier will process the transaction. Always best to have cash though, just in case. Over the years I calculate that I have spent nearly a year in France, adding up the bike and car trips made. I've never been stranded yet...

Sorry Lardmark, I missed your comment



I was also thinking that it had to be a first, but was unsure whether it was wise to mention that. Gigglesford!