National Gendarmerie

For similar forces in other countries, see Gendarmerie (disambiguation).
National Gendarmerie
Gendarmerie nationale
Logo of the National Gendarmerie
Logo of the National Gendarmerie
Common nameGendarmerie
MottoPour la patrie, l'honneur et le droit
(For the fatherland, honor and law)
Agency overview
Formed16 February 1791[1]
(233 years, 8 months ago)
Preceding agency
Employees102,269 people (2018)[2]
Volunteers12,602 volunteers (2018)[2]
Annual budget€9.57 billion (2021)
Jurisdictional structure
National agencyFrance
Operations jurisdictionFrance
Constituting instrument
  • Law of 28 Germinal year VI (April 17, 1798) relating to the organization of the national gendarmerie[3]
General nature
Specialist jurisdiction
  • Paramilitary law enforcement, counter insurgency, and riot control.
Operational structure
Officers and NCOs
  • 6,203 officers and 74,015 NCOs performing operational missions (2018)[2]
  • 595 officers and 4,592 NCOs in technical and administrative services (2018)[2]
Civilian staffs4,424 people (2018)[2]
Ministers responsible
Agency executive
  • Christian Rodriguez, Directeur-Général
Parent agencyMinistry of the Interior
Ministry of Armed Forces
Components
Gendarmerie components[4]
Website
www.gendarmerie.interieur.gouv.fr

The National Gendarmerie (French: Gendarmerie nationale [ʒɑ̃daʁməʁi nɑsjɔnal]) is one of two national law enforcement forces of France, along with the National Police. The Gendarmerie is a branch of the French Armed Forces placed under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior, with additional duties from the Ministry of Armed Forces. Its responsibilities include policing smaller towns, suburbs and rural areas, crowd and riot control, and criminal investigation, including cybercrime. By contrast, the National Police is a civilian law enforcement agency that is in charge of policing cities and larger towns. Because of its military status, the Gendarmerie also fulfills a range of military and defence missions. The Gendarmerie has a strength of around 102,269 people (as of 2018).[2]

The Gendarmerie is the heir of the Maréchaussée, the oldest police force in France, dating back to the Middle Ages. The Gendarmerie has influenced the culture and traditions of gendarmerie forces around the world, especially in independent countries from the former French colonial empire.

  1. ^ Gendarmerie nationale; Sirpa Gendarmerie (2016-10-16). "La gendarmerie, héritière des maréchaussées" [The Gendarmerie, successor of the maréchaussées]. French Ministry of Interior (in French). Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Memogend 2019". French Ministry of Interior (in French). 2016-10-16. p. 72. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  3. ^ Loi du 28 germinal an VI (17 avril 1798) relative à l'organisation de la gendarmerie nationale (Loi 28) (in French). 1798.
  4. ^ "Nos composantes". French Ministry of Interior (in French). 2016-10-16. Retrieved 2021-12-08.