NCJ Number
67459
Journal
Police Nationale Volume: 108 Issue: 3 Dated: (1978) Pages: 39-63
Date Published
1978
Length
25 pages
Annotation
SECURITY DEVICES, INSURANCE POLICIES, SELF-PROTECTION, AND POLICE PREVENTION OF BURGLARY IN FRANCE ARE EXPLAINED.
Abstract
EXTERNAL SECURITY DEVICES INCLUDE SECURITY LOCKS, WELL-PROTECTED HOUSE ENTRANCES (DOORS, WINDOWS), SPY-HOLES, SAFES AND ALARM EQUIPMENT. ALTHOUGH INSURANCE APPEARS TO BE AN EXCELLENT PROTECTION AGAINST BURGLARY, THE POLICIES USUALLY INCLUDE NUMEROUS RESTRICTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE OFFENSE CONDITIONS MENTIONED IN THE POLICY MUST BE FULFILLED, THE INSURANCE PAYMENT MAY NOT COVER THE ENTIRE VALUE OF THE LOSS, OR THE COMPANY MAY REQUIRE THE INSTALLATION OF PARTICULAR SECURITY DEVICES. SELF-DEFENSE AGAINST BURGLARS IS PERMITTED BY THE FRENCH CRIMINAL CODE IF THE VIOLENCE USED IS NECESSARY AND IF IT IS IN PROPORTION TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE. WHILE FRENCH LAW IMPOSES SEVERE RESTRICTIONS ON PRIVATE MILITIAS AND SECURITY AGENCIES, GREAT EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON POLICE PREVENTION. THE RECENTLY ESTABLISHED MOBILE SECURITY UNITS, AND LIGHT MOBILE NEIGHBORHOOD UNITS CONSIST OF ARMED POLICE OFFICERS IN PATROL CARS UNOBTRUSIVELY GUARDING BUILDINGS AND PERSONS IN 307 FRENCH COMMUNITIES. A SPECIAL MOTORCYCLE POLICE FORCE PRESENTLY CONSISTING OF 2,148 VEHICLES INCREASES SECURITY BY PROVIDING HIGHLY VISIBLE POLICE PRESENCE. AN EXPERIMENTAL PREVENTIVE PROJECT (TERMED 'ILOTAGE'), PROVIDES FOR THE PATROLLING OF A PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD BY THE SAME POLICE OFFICER, WHO CAN IMMEDIATELY DETECT UNUSUAL OCCURRENCES AND POSSESSES THE CONFIDENCE OF THE POPULATION. THE MOST RECENT PREVENTIVE PROGRAM, INTRODUCED IN THE FRENCH SUBURB LA CELLE-SAINT-CLOUD AND TERMED 'SURVEILLANCE BY MAP,' RELIES ON THE COOPERATION OF THE POPULATION AND ON CRIME GEOGRAPHY. FOR PARTICULAR, KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS, THE POLICE OBTAIN SPECIAL INFORMATION (DATES OF ABSENCES, SECURITY DEVICES, NUMBER OF INHABITANTS) AND SPECIAL PRIVILEGES (ENTERING THE PREMISES, CHECKING DOORS) FROM THE POPULATION HOMEOWNERS. PHOTOGRAPHS AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE INCLUDED. -IN FRENCH