Talk:Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité

Rank names

1) The CRS uses the same names of ranks as the rest of the police. 2) They are not "heavily armed", except in riot control operations, where they wear standard riot control gear. David.Monniaux 20:43, 16 Dec 2004 (UTC)

They certainly used to use military ranks. Maybe they've changed, but I've read an official French history stating that they did. And the CRS officers I've seen patrolling in Paris have certainly been carrying heavier weapons than other Paris police officers, including the Gendarmerie. I come from a country where the police are usually unarmed - I notice these things! -- Necrothesp 13:43, 17 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Historically, indeed, the CRS used military-sounding ranks. However, there was a general reorganization of the police ranks some years ago, with the whole national police being restructured in 3 corps, the middle of which has 3 ranks: lieutenant, captain, commander. I heard that this is a source of mild contention with the French Gendarmerie, because, apparently, the level of responsability of somebody bearing the title "captain" or "commander" in the Police is about that of the inferior rank in the Gendarmerie.

As for the weaponry: the CRS is used for a variety of missions. One of these missions is riot and crowd control, and for this mission the CRS generally wear helmets, shields etc. (see riotsquad) This is not what is commonly referred to as "heavily armed". In more normal missions, they tend to be armed like many police forces in the US and elsewhere: truncheon and a handgun.

Still, if you compare to the Gendarmerie, I think that the Mobiles are those that have the heavier stockpile – including FAMAS.[1] Plus, they have some armored personal carriers and a few light tanks. Of course these are seldom seen.

(Little bit of trivia: I've attended street protests faced with Mobiles.) David.Monniaux 18:58, 17 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Fair enough. I didn't know about the rank reorganisation. As far as "heavily armed" is concerned, I think we're at cross purposes. I come from Britain, where to see any armed police officer is still a talking point and cause for amazement (and long may it continue!). When I said heavily armed, I actually meant that they appeared to be carrying heavier calibre handguns and larger batons then ordinary police officers, not that they had armour, automatic weapons and/or armoured vehicles. I saw a pair on patrol in the Tuileries a few years ago and their guns certainly seemed to be bigger than those carried by other police officers that I saw (but then again, I'm no expert). -- Necrothesp 11:49, 21 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Another point: the CRS wear blue uniforms with big CRS logos, as can be easily seen on the photograph. Those who wear black uniforms are mobile Gendarmes. These mobiles are heavily armed. David.Monniaux 19:56, 17 Dec 2004 (UTC)

"the CRS wear a big red CRS patch; the gendarmes have stylized grenades" exchanged 'stylicized' for 'stylized' as there's no such word as 'stylicized' --ahpook 10:31, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

Question: I notice that we say "les CRS" is "feminine plural." Les is the plural for both masculine and feminine. Why is this indicated to be the fem. plural?

Because "compagnie" is a feminine noun. This also explain the "e" at the end of "républicaine". Truth or consequences-2 (talk) 16:27, 27 January 2009 (UTC)

Comment (based on O.R.): It would not be correct to say C.R.S. are "heavily armed." They are not like Swat teams or GIGN. As stated above, their armament is typical - they deploy with handguns, clubs, and less-than-lethal crowd control weapons. I have never seen CRS deploy with even shotguns, much less rifles. BUT, they are differently-equipped, than the rest of the national police, the typical gendarme, or municipal policeman. Riot control and guard duty at non-military installations, which is the mission of les CRS, does not require big guns. Crowd control require a lot of protective gear, and CRS has it. But that's not 'weaponry.' Can you say they're "heavily armored?" I think that might be misleading too. I think it's most accurate to say they are "specialized" or "well-equipped." Non Curat Lex (talk) 06:44, 28 August 2008 (UTC)

Comment : The CRS personnel is issued the same handgun than the rest of the (regular) police forces. They are able to deploy rifles (5.56mm). They can dress the same than the local police station uniformed personnel, and do so in a number of occasions, in which people tend not to notice them as CRS.

The red patch on the blue overalls is the most obvious way of spotting a CRS officer, as the two yellow stripes on the helmet ; but journalists tend to give the name CRS to any officer dressed in overalls and riot gear. The CRS use the same rank names than the French military since their creation in 1944, which the rest of the police has now adopted. The middle management officers have greater responsibilities, e.g. about budget, that the similar ranks in the French Gendarmerie appear to have. Therefore the officers in these ranks may resent the assertion that the Gendarmes bear a greater level of responsibility. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 212.234.218.194 (talk) 14:19, 3 November 2008 (UTC)

a well documented website about the history of CRS: http://polices.mobiles.free.fr/

a CRS officer212.234.218.194 (talk) 14:25, 3 November 2008 (UTC)

Violence

Say "CRS" any french citizen, and you are likely to hear a bunch of insults immediately referenced by previous experiences of violence that were either lived or seen at the hands of that specific force. I do think this should be left aside as, apart of the mainstream media, the CRS is known as one of the vilest polices forces ever. Documents are there to prove the plight of the few that are there to speak, for many others have been shut. Of course, I am not asking for that very article to demonize the CRS or the French state, but I really do feel that a very important aspect, if not the most important for a great number of people has been left out.--85.99.132.176 (talk) 12:07, 18 September 2010 (UTC)

The Wikipedia only allows neutral articles about the function and composition of such organisations. It is not the place to discuss grievances about them. Any clearly non neutral text or language in an article may be removed by any editor. Editors please remember however, that article talk pages are for discussing improvement to articles, and not for discussion about the subject itself. --Kudpung (talk) 16:46, 21 September 2010 (UTC)

I'm a french citizen myself and I respect the "CSR", I don't think they are particularly violent compared to the rioters themselves. Most of my french friends would agree with me. — Preceding unsigned comment added by FabienVDP (talk • contribs) 15:39, 2 February 2011 (UTC)

"CRS company"?

• I wrote "Each CRS company is specialized in one field:", and another editor deleted the word "company" as tautology. But saying "a CRS" to mean one of its component companies in English is unclear :: OK, "CRS company" is tautological :: also "PIN number" is tautological, but is useful for clarity; and in French "un CRS" is colloquial for "one CRS man". The same happened earlier with the English words "a commando", which originally meant one regiment, and now to most people means one man. Anthony Appleyard (talk) 21:44, 13 March 2014 (UTC)