Paris:Police academy trainees will be deployed as reinforcements during nationwide demonstrations across France on Saturday as the government tightens security measures, broadcaster BFMTV reported Friday.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, the French National Police Directorate has called on volunteer trainees nearing the end of their training to reinforce security forces at various locations across the country during the protests. These trainees will be tasked with guarding buildings and conducting administrative tasks at police stations, thus allowing more experienced officers to engage in sensitive operations. However, due to a 2022 law, trainees will not be deployed on the front lines for crowd control or public order operations.
Several dozen trainees have already volunteered for these duties. The French government has announced a large-scale security operation for Saturday's demonstrations, planning to deploy more than the 60,000 security personnel that were sent out during the October 17 protests, which resulted in damage to businesses and public buildings. Jean-Didier Berger, the minister delegate to the Interior Ministry, stated that the number of security personnel deployed on Saturday would be '20% higher' than on October 17. In addition to the trainees, Sentinelle military personnel, elite units from the GIGN and RAID, and riot police officers are also expected to be deployed.
Authorities have issued several orders across the Paris metropolitan area, including bans on transporting fuel and flammable gases, carrying protective equipment within 100 meters (328 feet) of a school, and possessing fireworks mortars. Paris police have also announced a curfew for adults and minors around Place de la Republique and Les Halles, from 11 pm to 6 am, starting Thursday evening and continuing until Sunday.
President Emmanuel Macron declared on Thursday at a security council meeting that demonstrations not organized by trade unions would be banned in the coming days. This ban is particularly emphasized for Saturday, "wherever possible." Prefects are tasked with examining union requests and suggesting alternative routes to protect city centers, businesses, and public buildings. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon indicated that restrictions on non-union demonstrations would be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Following Macron's announcement, prefectures authorized only one of the two requested routes for Saturday in Paris and banned all gatherings in Lyon and parts of Nice city center, as reported by Franceinfo. The prefect of Bouches-du-Rhone also declared a ban on all demonstrations within the department, including Marseille, on Saturday, 'including those concerning issues other than purchasing power.' In Lille, the Nord prefecture announced a ban on 'all demonstrations' and gatherings in the city center on Saturday.