Groupe de Sécurité de la Présidence de la République
Encyclopedia
The Security Group for the Presidency of the Republic (GSPR) is the security unit in charge of the safety of President of France.
In the past, the group was composed of 30 gendarmes and 30 policemen
and a Lieutenant-Colonel of Gendarmerie or a Commissaire divisionnaire de Police
was alternately in charge.
Since the election of Nicolas Sarkozy
, the Group is only composed of policemen
from the Service de Protection des Hautes Personnalités
and from the RAID
unit. Also since his election the unit has 90 members - 30 more because of higher threat levels. No Gendarmerie officers are in the unit as President Sarkozy believes he should not be protected by the French military.
In the past, the group was composed of 30 gendarmes and 30 policemen
French National Police
The National Police , formerly the Sûreté Nationale, is one of two national police forces and the main civil law enforcement agency of France, with primary jurisdiction in cities and large towns. The other main agency is the military Gendarmerie, with primary jurisdiction in smaller towns and rural...
and a Lieutenant-Colonel of Gendarmerie or a Commissaire divisionnaire de Police
Police commissioner
Commissioner is a senior rank used in many police forces and may be rendered Police Commissioner or Commissioner of Police. In some organizations, the commissioner is a political appointee, and may or may not actually be a professional police officer. In these circumstances, there is often a...
was alternately in charge.
Since the election of Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
, the Group is only composed of policemen
French National Police
The National Police , formerly the Sûreté Nationale, is one of two national police forces and the main civil law enforcement agency of France, with primary jurisdiction in cities and large towns. The other main agency is the military Gendarmerie, with primary jurisdiction in smaller towns and rural...
from the Service de Protection des Hautes Personnalités
Service de Protection des Hautes Personnalités
The Service de Protection des Hautes Personnalités or in English, VIP Protection Service, is a unit within the French National Police which is responsible for the protection of French and Foreign dignitaries and the provision of technical security support...
and from the RAID
Recherche Assistance Intervention Dissuasion
Recherche Assistance Intervention Dissuasion or RAID is, like the GIPN, a Special Operations tactical unit of the National Police with more manpower and equipment...
unit. Also since his election the unit has 90 members - 30 more because of higher threat levels. No Gendarmerie officers are in the unit as President Sarkozy believes he should not be protected by the French military.