Better Safety for Municipal Police

The government has announced that it will finance the purchase of bulletproof vests, revolvers and better equipped radio stations in order to improve the safety and efficiency of the municipal police.

The Minister of the Interior announced earlier today at tyhe end of a meeting with Municipal police unions, that the government will make available more than 4,000 revolvers for the municipal police and will also help them to finance the purchase of 8,000 bulletproof vests.

It follows on from the Paris attacks at Charlie Hebdo of 7, 8 and 9 January, in which 17 people were killed, including two policemen of the municipal police.

The minister said “The state will make freely available to local authorities who wish to arm their municipal police, with over 4000 operational guns, to be able to be used within the legal framework”, meaning that there is “no question of arming all of the Municipal Police”

Similarly, in order to help municipalities and public establishments for cooperation (EPCI) finance the increase in the protection of municipal police officers, such as and including bulletproof vests, the government has decided to an increase of two million euros – up to 50% – for the acquisition of 8000 vests.

In order to improve the interoperability of communication networks between national and municipal security forces, the state will also subsidize Public and EPCI up to 30% for the purchase of radios, for “greater operational efficiency and increased safety of municipal police officers “via” the calling of a general alert in case of aggression. ”

Finally, “better co-operation, access and sharing of the files between the Municipal Police  and the Gendarmerie will be promoted, in accordance with the framework set by the law,” the statement added.