NCJ Number
65552
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A BRITISH POLICE OFFICER REPORTS ON GERMAN BEPO AND FRENCH CRS MOBILE POLICE RESERVES, THEIR ROLES AND DUTIES, ORGANIZATION, COMMAND STRUCTURE, AND EQUIPMENT.
Abstract
FRANCE HAS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR EACH OF ITS POLICE SERVICES. POLICE OFFICERS MAY OR MAY NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO CARRY OUT INVESTIGATIONS; ALTHOUGH CRS MAY NOT PRESENTLY INVESTIGATE, THEY MAY SOON BE ABLE TO DO SO IN CRIMINAL TRAFFIC OFFENSES. BESIDES SUPPORTING REGULAR POLICE WHEN NEEDED, CRS MAINTAINS ORDER AT PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS AND EVENTS. A SPECIAL CRS UNIT ASSIGNED TO PARIS PROTECTS VISITING VIPS, AND EMBASSIES, AND ESCORTS THE FRENCH PRESIDENT. ALL CRS UNITS BUT THE ONE IN PARIS ARE HIGHLY MOBILE AND MAY SUPPORT AIRPORT OR CITY POLICE, PATROL BEACHES, OR PERFORM OTHER DUTIES. CRS UNITS TRAVEL IN CONVOY AND RECEIVE THOROUGH WEAPONS TRAINING. BEPOS AND OTHER GERMAN POLICE FORCES ARE ADMINISTERED BY MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR OF EACH GERMAN STATE. BEPO UNITS PRIMARILY TRAIN POLICEMEN DURING THEIR INITIAL 2 AND ONE-HALF YEARS AND OPERATE TRAINING CENTERS. THUS, WHILE CRS UNITS ARE INTENDED TO PERFORM MANY POLICING TASKS, WITH PUBLIC ORDER KEEPING THEIR MOST IMPORTANT, BEPO UNITS ARE NOT MOBILE AND THEIR DEPLOYMENT IN SUPPORT OF OTHER POLICE INTERRUPTS THEIR TRAINING DUTIES. BEPO UNITS ARE ISSUED AUTOMATIC WEAPONS AND SUBMACHINE GUNS. COMMAND STRUCTURES FOR BOTH SERVICES ARE OUTLINED. CHARTS ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)