Police

Passenger killed as concrete block dropped onto French motorway

The national gendarmerie is appealing for witnesses and has launched a murder investigation

You can now report certain crimes anywhere in France using online tool

The new tool is now live, and aims to get a police officer or gendarme to review your report report within 48 hours

British Alps murders: new reconstruction to take place

The case of the Chevaline killings remains unsolved more than 12 years later

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Shots fired at 10am as gunmen attempt to steal €7 million from armoured van in France

The assailants fled the scene empty-handed, say police

Can you help identify ‘cold case’ of woman in France with UK coin?

The teenage girl is one of 46 unsolved 'suspicious death' cases highlighted in a new appeal by Interpol

Crackdown on knife-carrying in France: what are the rules?

Authorities are increasingly applying the existing law more rigorously, but critics say it is ‘too ambiguous’

Body of missing student found buried in Paris wood

The teenager had been reported missing a day earlier by her parents whom she was due to visit

What update on hunt for prisoner who escaped four months ago in France?

The prisoner was travelling in a police vehicle when it was charged by armed men at a motorway toll

Gendarme's widow: ‘France’s lax approach killed my husband’

The driver who ran over the gendarmerie officer was previously known to police for traffic offences and refusing police orders

Gendarme killed by driver who refused to stop on motorway near Cannes

The deceased was a 54-year-old married father of two

Breakthrough in long-running disappearance case of teenager in France

The DNA of a 15-year-old girl, who went missing ten months ago, has been found in a stolen car

Did you know French police can check your home when you are away?

Here is how to sign up for the service, as well as a special check for elderly people. Plus, advice on how to avoid ‘fake police’ scams

French teenager suspected of plotting terrorist act at Paris Olympics

The 16-year-old had ‘pledged allegiance’ to Islamic State and has admitted his plans

France placed on highest alert after Moscow attack: what changes?

Anti-terrorist measures are stepped up. Alert may remain throughout summer

How long can car be parked in same spot in France before police act?

Impounded cars are often destroyed after being taken away

How cold case unit got French serial killer’s ex-wife to talk

Investigators worked patiently for months - including using a dog and chocolate - to get answers for the victim’s families

Englishman charged with murder in France but never extradited dies

His adopted home country of Ireland refused to extradite him despite the French conviction

France has lowered its terrorism threat alert level

Alert level was temporarily raised in October after the fatal stabbing of a teacher and remained in place after attacks in Paris in November

Boy, 2, missing in French hamlet: Where is inquiry six months on?

Investigations are continuing into the child’s sudden disappearance in the tiny mountain community

128,000 identity checks a day in France: what must foreigners show?

Around nine million drivers are stopped each year

41 arrests over tantric yoga group accused of sex abuse in France

More than 25 women were allegedly being kept against their will in ‘deplorable conditions’, by a self-styled ‘guru’

Alert over fake police officers after couple lose €3,000 in France

The criminals lured the couple from their home, saying their car window had been smashed

Man shot dead in bed from stray bullet fired at flat below in France

Police believe 55-year old has ‘nothing to do with’ any criminal activity and was hit by mistake

Under what circumstances can French police ask to see my ID?

France has rules on who can check which documents, when, and why. We explain

Police shoot woman who threatened terrorism in Paris station

Two inquiries have been opened after the suspect - who said she wanted ‘to blow everything up’ - was shot in the stomach

Objects recovered from burglaries put online in south-west France

The gendarmerie hopes the website will let victims reclaim their stolen items

Cinemas, airports: off-duty police to be able to carry guns in France

The Ministry of the Interior has prepared a decree to be published shortly

Police numbers at French airports to be increased by up to 40%

Most of the bomb threats, which led to hundreds of flights being cancelled last week, came from one email address

Teacher killed, two injured in terrorist knife attack at French school

The perpetrator, who is on the state’s ‘fiché S’ watch list of people considered to pose a possible security risk to the state, has been arrested. He is a former student at the school

Scams, rule-breaks, repairs: 5 practical updates in France

We recap practical articles from last week, including increases to rural policing, increased power for radars, and the new Covid booster drive

Why thousands more gendarmes are to be based in rural areas in France

We also look at the differences in the three main police services that operate in the country

Netflix Puppet Master’s flight from French police to be reconstructed

Conman Robert Hendy-Freegard severely injured two officers when fleeing from a Creuse village last August. He was eventually arrested in Belgium

Boy, 2, missing in French Alps: inquiry changes to kidnapping

Emile disappeared more than a month ago. No body has been found despite repeated searches

Gun fired on French TGV: Off-duty police officer onboard subdues man

The plain-clothes officer was travelling on a special police discount scheme and so had his weapon with him

Did you know French police can check on your home while you are away?

You can sign up at your local police station or online

Why weapons seizures in France jumped last year

The head of France’s office against organised crime said 30% of weapons seized each year are found during drug trafficking investigations

Arrest after shooting in eastern France leaves one dead

Police are on the hunt for a gunman who opened fire at a café in Nantua, Ain

Daughter pleads for missing French mum to ‘give us a sign’ she is okay

Karine Equivillon has not been seen since March 27

You should soon be able to report some crimes in France from home

New software will allow people to make complaints without entering police stations, alleviating waiting times and making people feel more secure

French police to receive animal protection training

The move has been welcomed by animal welfare groups

‘Total tragedy’: Three French police officers die in car crash

Officials say their vehicle was hit head-on by a car travelling in the wrong direction

French officers detained after police car hit scooter and injured girl

The girl, 17, remains in hospital. Two other teenagers were hurt. Their lawyer has filed a complaint for ‘attempted murder’

Missing jogger found safe and well in France: she left with a friend

Search parties had been launched after the 20-year-old failed to return home after leaving to go jogging early on Friday morning

French mayor formally probed over alleged erotic videotape blackmail

The video allegedly shows the mayor’s ex-deputy receiving an erotic massage from a male escort

Scam alert: Fraudsters pose as French police to con people out of cash

Police in southern France issue a warning about the scam, which involves prepaid cash cards

Paris urged to act after video appears to show gunmen in Nice street

The appeal over the video came on Sunday, the same day that three people were killed in violence in Marseille

Homes evacuated as fire ravages 10 hectares in forest near Nice

The fire saw 54 people evacuated early Saturday morning and a homeless man arrested suspected of starting the fire to keep warm

What are valid forms of ID in France and must I always carry one?

We look at what police will accept if you need to prove your identity and what their rights are regarding this

French home blast: One man dead and several police officers injured

The explosion happened at a house in the Allier department as police were trying to take a man in for questioning

New French police website launched

France has created a single website through which all dealings with French police or gendarmes can go

Cashpoint ‘shoulder surfing’ gang arrested in France

They are accused of watching over victims’ shoulders as they type in their PIN numbers, before stealing bankcards and using them to withdraw money

Police probe reports of a lion roaming near a town in northern France

The mayor of Prouvy told The Connexion police and forest wardens were still trying to trace the mystery animal

Cocaine bags continue to be found washed-up on beaches in Normandy

In the space of just four days, hundreds of kilograms of the drug have been discovered in hermetically-sealed bags

2012 Annecy ‘Alps murder’ of British family: police reminded about gun

A judge working on the cold case has urged officers to stay alert to signs of the weapon used

Six people hurt in early-morning knife attack at Paris Gare du Nord

The victims have been treated at the scene by emergency services. One is seriously injured

French festivals ‘could be cancelled’ during 2024 Paris Olympics

France’s Interior Ministry has warned events may need to be cancelled or moved due to the large number of police officers required at the Olympics

Puppet Master: UK conman appeals against handover to French police

He is currently in prison in Belgium where he was caught by police after driving his car into two French gendarmes at the end of August

Can French authorities send parking fine without a windscreen note?

We look at whether parking charge notices can be sent directly to a car owner’s home in France

French mayor faces party expulsion over sex tape blackmail accusations

The mayor of Saint-Étienne has been questioned by police with four others. He allegedly obtained the tape using public funds and pressured a former deputy with it

French case is Puppet Master’s undoing, says writer tracking UK conman

Screenwriter Michael Bronner has been following the case of British conman Robert Hendy-Freegard for over 15 years – and he thinks the game is up for the man now wanted by French police

British Netflix conman wanted for attempted murder in France is caught

Robert Hendy-Freegard who inspired the ‘Puppet Master’ series has been on the run since August 25 after driving into police officers in a village in Creuse

French mayor raised alarm over British ‘Puppetmaster’ conman in 2018

A man believed to be Robert Hendy-Freegard is still at large after driving into gendarmes. French villagers where he had a property say they had concerns for years

Photo: French police stop van carrying everything plus kitchen sink

The van also had tyres, bikes and stepladders in a net on its roof. French authorities can issue fines to drivers of overloaded vehicles

France to train new ‘green gendarmerie’ to fight environmental crime

The new teams will help to fight against issues such as wildfire arson, the interior minister has said. He also announced plans to combat urban and rural joyriding and delinquency

Station bag thief caught after laptop inside tracks him to French city

The owner contacted police 65kms away when his stolen laptop and tablet showed the items were nearby

Explainer: how to get police to check on your home in France when away

The checks add extra security while you are on holiday and you can now sign up online for the free service

France to open first training centre for police who attend protests

The interior minister says it will better prepare officers and that officers must ‘do everything to respect the constitutional right to protest’

Stade de France chaos an ‘inevitable fiasco’ says French Senate

The report states that Liverpool supporters were not to blame for the issues of May 28 and recommends 15 measures to avoid a similar incident happening again

Change Olympic opening plans, warns Paris football final investigator

The head of the investigation into the Stade de France chaos states police do not have the crowd control skills to keep people safe at a River Seine opening

Gendarmerie convert campervan to reach rural areas of France

Coming to a village near you? The roving campervan has been rolling into communes in Normandy to bring gendarmerie services to more isolated areas

Dismembered body of cyclist found at tourist site in southern France

Police say the body belongs to a local electrician who did not appear to have any ongoing feuds

What can I do about a neighbour blocking my garage in France?

If the neighbour does not agree to park elsewhere, it is possible to escalate the issue to the authorities

Mammoth tusk, rare art: French police list haul of 7,000 stolen items

A website has been set up to help return the objects - worth a combined total of around €700,000 - to their rightful owners

Driver doing 200km/h in northern France caught by police plane

The speeding car managed to shake off emergency services and was only caught after cooperation between on-the-ground gendarmerie vehicles and a Border Police plane

French police launch recruitment of 30,000 reserve officers

The personnel, recruited over the next few years, will be trained in using a firearm and will aim to improve police services on the ground and boost links with the public