First Responders in France: What do the gendarmes do?

What role do the police and first responders play in local life in France? Leah Rottier reports…

Imagine you’re driving along a country road in France when, suddenly, a distinctive, dark blue ‘Gendarmerie’ car looms in the distance. A dreaded road check. A sinking feeling of guilt sweeps over you, even though you know you’ve done nothing wrong. It’s fair to say that, for most people, dealing with the police and gendarmes in France can be a rather stressful or intimidating experience. However, as with all emergency services, their role is crucial to daily life in the tens of thousands of communes throughout the country.

But what is the difference between the gendarmerie nationale and the police?

Approximately 96% of the French territory falls under the jurisdiction of the gendarmes, so in rural France, you’re much more likely to come across the gendarmes in your daily life.

These military-trained officers are generally responsible for security in communes and towns with less than 20,000 inhabitants. In larger towns and cities, it is the responsibility of the police – a civilian-based force to enforce law and order.

To confuse matters further, you may come across the police municipale. These officers are employed by the mairie (town hall) and they only work within their town or commune, having more limited functions than the national police/gendarmes.

Civray is a charming market town in southern Vienne (86), with around 2,500 full-time residents and a gendarmerie in the town centre. It’s a hotspot for British homeowners who choose to settle in this beautiful and historic department. Close to the Charente border, the town enjoys a mild climate and easy access to both Poitiers and Limoges airports.

A spokesperson for the Civray gendarmerie explains how the gendarmes can help British homeowners in France via the OTV scheme. “Anyone can use the Opération Tranquillité Vacances service, including second-home owners,” he advises. “You just need to apply online or in person at your local gendarmerie or police station.”

The OTV scheme is a free service to protect your home during a prolonged absence, whether you go on holiday for a fortnight or return to the UK for a significant period of time. Simply give your address and the dates your house will be empty to your local gendarmes, and they will include your house on their patrol routes while it’s unoccupied. You’ll be contacted on the telephone number you provided if there are any problems.

The spokesperson for the Civray gendarmerie highly recommends using this free service. He also has sound advice for those purchasing their first home in France. “If you’re thinking of installing a security alarm, the gendarmes can provide you with free, neutral and objective advice, due to their impartiality and lack of affiliation with any particular security alarm company,” he says.

Your local gendarmerie will be very willing to assist on matters regarding property security in France. Some useful tips from the gendarmerie nationale include:

• Change the locks on your new home as soon as your purchase completes, before moving in.
• If you have any valuable items, be sure to take photos of them, and make a note of any serial numbers on your devices.
• Close all windows and doors securely when you leave your home, even if you live in a rural location and you’re just ‘popping out’ for a few minutes. Most burglaries happen very quickly, usually taking less than 10 minutes.
• Never communicate your holiday dates or periods of absence from your French home on social media.
• Don’t leave any tools, ladders or other DIY equipment outside overnight, or when you leave the house unoccupied.

If you discover that your property in France has been burgled, telephone the gendarmes/police immediately, by dialling 17 or 112 (the European emergency number). Avoid touching anything in the house and don’t let anyone enter while you’re waiting for the gendarmes to arrive.

In most rural communes in France, you’ll find it’s often the sapeurs-pompiers who arrive first on the scene for medical emergencies. But there’s also an important network of medically trained first responders, and in an emergency, you can reach the ambulance service by dialling 15 or 112.

The SAMU (Service d’Aide Médicale Urgente) operates a 24/7 call centre that covers a multitude of functions. These include giving straightforward medical advice, directing you to a doctor or the nearest hospital, or dispatching ambulances to deal with serious accidents and even terrorist attacks involving multiple victims. The SAMU can also request the assistance of the SMUR (Structures Mobiles d’Urgence et de Réanimation) for more serious cases. The acronym SAMU, followed by the department number, is now commonly used throughout France to denote all urgent medical assistance. For example, you’ll often hear people refer to ‘SAMU 16’ for medical emergencies in Charente or ‘SAMU 86’ for the department of Vienne.

When you dial 15 or 112, ensure you speak clearly and concisely, giving as much information as you can about the accident or medical emergency. There’s no guarantee that the telephone operator will speak English, so it’s a good idea to know a few phrases, should you need them. In moments of panic or distress, French vocabulary can easily fly out of your head, so a postcard-sized ‘cheat sheet’ in the house or a dictionary phone app can make all the difference. Clearly state your name and address, as well as the name and age of the person who needs medical assistance.

Some useful words and phrases include:

• J’ai besoin d’un médecin/d’une ambulance – I need a doctor/an ambulance
• Un AVC (accident vasculaire cérébral) – A stroke
• Il/Elle ne respire pas – He/She isn’t breathing

As mentioned in the last issue of French Property News, the sapeurs-pompiers run regular first-aid courses throughout France. These are a fantastic way to learn how to deal with any accidents, as well as giving you invaluable French vocabulary. For those looking to operate a gîte or holiday-home business in France, these courses are a wonderful way of ensuring you’re prepared should any medical mishaps arise. Using the emergency services may not be on your mind when you arrive in France to start your exciting new life. But it’s best to be prepared. Spending a little time familiarising yourself with some essential vocabulary, as well as the different telephone numbers you may need, is a great idea. You’ll have peace of mind knowing who to contact in an emergency and you can concentrate on enjoying all the delights life in France offers.

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