Out of interest, any Francophiles aware of these plain-clothes motorcycle police? Probably not an issue for most touring Brits passing through Paris but, if you are tempted into a race around the Peripherique, beware ...
Just watching "Appels d'Urgence", a French documentary along the lines of "Police, Camera, Action". The programme is following the motorcyclists of the Police Nationale in Paris - a crack unit, more closely aligned to the CRS than the usual traffic/parking control types. Among their number are the "Gardiens de la Paix" whose job is to pursue and fine or arrest reckless city bikers. They ride in plain leathers on ordinary-looking unmarked bikes, often two-up. They have full Police powers, but their only identifying features are white Police helmets with the distinctive red stripe and a discrete "Police" armband.
ETA Impressive riders, these French police. I've often been impressed by motorcycle Gendarmes on the Autoroute, riding in shirt-sleeves, but these Parisien riders beat them hands down - or may be I should say hands free. Watching in awe as officers of the Police Nationale weave through the city traffic, standing on their pegs, directing traffic WITH BOTH HANDS!
Just watching "Appels d'Urgence", a French documentary along the lines of "Police, Camera, Action". The programme is following the motorcyclists of the Police Nationale in Paris - a crack unit, more closely aligned to the CRS than the usual traffic/parking control types. Among their number are the "Gardiens de la Paix" whose job is to pursue and fine or arrest reckless city bikers. They ride in plain leathers on ordinary-looking unmarked bikes, often two-up. They have full Police powers, but their only identifying features are white Police helmets with the distinctive red stripe and a discrete "Police" armband.
ETA Impressive riders, these French police. I've often been impressed by motorcycle Gendarmes on the Autoroute, riding in shirt-sleeves, but these Parisien riders beat them hands down - or may be I should say hands free. Watching in awe as officers of the Police Nationale weave through the city traffic, standing on their pegs, directing traffic WITH BOTH HANDS!
