France's Macron unveils plan to bolster security in wake of riots

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday announced the locations of 238 new gendarmerie brigades to be set up in rural and semi rural areas across the country. Security remains an issue of national concern after urban riots broke out in June following the police killing of a young motorist in the Paris suburbs.

French President Emmanuel Macron meets gendarmerie officers upon his arrival at a Gendarmerie brigade in Damazan, southwestern France on October 2, 2023. AFP - BOB EDME

“This is an historic effort,” Macron said as he presented the plan in the south-western town of Tonneins, where he also inaugurated the local barracks alongside Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin and gendarmerie director general Christian Rodriguez.

It will see the creation of 2,144 gendarme positions out of a total 8,500 overall law enforcement positions to be opened up by 2027.

Mobile units

Most of the brigades will be mobile units made up of six gendarmes that will move through the municipalities by truck. Larger brigades of 10 gendarmes will have a fixed location.

Municipalities to benefit include Sisteron (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), Cagnes-sur-Mer (Alpes-Maritimes), Lisieux (Calvados), Guéret (Creuse), Besançon (Doubs), Mont-Saint-Michel (Manche) or Rambouillet (Yvelines).

Overseas territories such as in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni (Guyana), Fort-de-France (Martinique) and Papeete (French Polynesia) will also welcome new brigades.

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“Economic, demographic and operational” criteria including delinquency, burglary, domestic violence, etc were taken into account when selecting the bridages sites, which the Elysée Palace said was done following months of consultation with local police prefects.

Macron’s much-awaited plan, which will be put before an interministerial meeting next week, is a 2022 campaign promise to strengthen France’s law enforcement network.

He has also vowed a 15 billion euro increase for the Interior Ministry budget and to double the number of security forces on public roads over the next 10 years.