System for Locating Criminal in France (From Moeglichkeiten und Grenzen der Fahndung - Arbeitstagung des Bundeskriminalamtes Wiesbaden, P 95-103, 1980 - See NCJ-78924)

• NCJ Number: 78932
• Author(s): H Gevaudan
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: German; French
• Country: West Germany (Former)
• Note: Lecture given at Working Conference of the Federal Bureau of Criminal Matters, November 12-15, 1979.

Annotation

Modern methods used by French police to locate criminals are described.

Abstract

In searching for criminals, French police use the same methods as many other countries. Technical aids include central and local card catalogues of persons, offenses, and vehicle thefts. Such measures as general alerts, road blocks, and traffic control vary according to the particular situation. Officers must often investigate organizations and persons as part of search efforts, but such efforts are controlled by laws protecting individual rights. For large-scale manhunts a special plan (REX) permits systematic checking of all thoroughfares, although the system is seldom used. The mass media may be involved in searches for missing persons or criminals, but police seldom resort to this approach because of the reticence of the French public to help. Searches for objects have in the past been limited by the lack of good descriptions of those objects. The situation has been remedied somewhat by the introduction of computer files, but searches could be facilitated further if the public would learn to keep records on their valuables. Because of the demands of police work, the main focuses in computer use are documentation and general data collection. As a result of limitations in financial resources, however, police have had to concentrate on establishing person, object, and vehicle files. The introduction of data processing systems in police work has necessitated passage of laws to prevent misuse of personal data. The high degree of mobility of modern criminals has caused the French police to introduce special police units for border patrol which play an important role in large-scale searches for offenders and stolen vehicles. Bilateral agreements between France and Germany, as well as between France and other countries have encouraged international cooperation in controlling both drug smuggling and international terrorism. The greatest possibilities for control of international terrorism lie in constant contact and regular exchanges of information among countries affected.