In France, the police forces are composed of two divisions:
- The “Gendarmerie nationale” refers to a branch of the French armed forces which is in charge of public safety and has police duties among the civilian population.
- The “Police” refers to the French national police (civil forces)
They have the same missions:
- General public safety duties: protecting peopleand property, reporting, informing
- Search and rescue operations
- Improving road safety
What should I do if I am assaulted?
Dial 112 or 17 to reach the nearest police station
Should you be a victim of assault you can report the assault either by lodging a formal complaint or by simply by calling any police station (your declaration will be registered in the police log book), regardless of your city of residence and of the place where the assault occurred.
The police log book (“main courante”)
It is used to report facts without instituting criminal proceedings.
The declaration is registered and the perpetrator will be summoned if necessary. You will receive a receipt acknowledging your declaration and stating the place, date and time of declaration and your registration number.
The complaint (“plainte”)
In a lawsuit, a complaint is the document filed by a person or entity claiming legal rights against another. Only the victim of the offence, his/her legal representative and his/her dependents are entitled to lodge a complaint.
Should the victim be a minor, his/her parents or guardian can lodge a complaint on his/her behalf. However, the minor can still contact the police to tell them about the assault.