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Burglaries in Dordogne: Signs that show a home is at risk
A series of break-ins have been reported over the Christmas period
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What you need to show during a police roadside check in France
Here is what to have on hand (and other must-know vehicle rules)
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New police check campaign in south-west France as road deaths rise
Fatal accidents are up significantly, prompting authorities to launch a new safety campaign
Is a French gendarme same as an agent de police?
What is the difference between a gendarme and an agent de police ? D.F.
The Gendarmerie and Police Nationale have broadly similar roles but gendarmes work at a caserne (barracks) and are often in rural areas and suburbs, whereas a police station (commissariat) is more often found in cities.
Gendarmes are part of the military and are under the joint responsibility of the Interior and Defence Ministries. They are soldiers and their name comes from gens d’armes, “armed people”. The Police Nationale falls under the Interior Ministry and its officers are fonctionnaires.
There are also local police municipale forces under the mairie’s responsibility.
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