NCJ Number
81898
Journal
Police Nationale Issue: 116 Dated: (August 1981) Pages: 33-39
Date Published
1981
Length
7 pages
Annotation
About a dozen different, autonomous French ministries and agencies have authority over the various aspects of maritime activity. The principal law enforcement function in French territorial waters falls to the coast guard, while port policing is under the purview of the port cities' local police department.
Abstract
The article explains the principles and international agreements by which territorial waters and neutrality of the open seas are defined as well as the public domain status of internal waterways and the coast. It summarizes the origin, organization, and powers of the French coast guard and identifies the purviews of specialized professionals (engineers, customs officals, etc.) involved in port administration, with emphasis on responsibilities of local port police units. The latter are explained with specific reference to provisions of the law. The problems of coordinated interaction among authorities such as the national, criminal, and border police in various situations arising at marine and port locations are discussed. Finally, the issues of enforcing public order on the waters and retrieving wrecked vessels are considered. Footnotes and photographs are given.