Water cannons, drones and ammunition… senators’ recommendations for rearming law enforcement agencies

For the National Gendarmerie alone, during the unrest of the summer of 2023, 47 attacks on barracks were recorded, with damage ranging from arson to tagging. Not forgetting the 19 invasions, in particular with the ascension. On the police side, the central police station of Evry-Courcouron (Essonne), surrounded by incendiary barricades and subject to explosive attacks, was subject to several coordinated assault attempts, saved, among other things, by the intervention of a water cannon.

These figures, presented in the parliamentary report, as well as Every’s example, illustrate, according to senators, the renewed need to ensure the security of law enforcement buildings and arsenals. And thus avoid any attack. This reminder is part of recommendations to “modernize means of restoration and maintenance of public order.”

Disperse, prevent and control

Among these measures: regular shooting training for the use of weapons (at stands closest to workplaces, especially in the Paris region, where this issue is acute), the use and development of intermediate weapons such as water cannons, allowing for a staged response, training of special units to intervene in situations of riots.

Another lesson concerns the issue of ammunition. As such, the Home Office’s Central Arms and Explosives Service (SCAE) noted “tension” regarding the amount of ammunition produced and supplied to internal security forces during the week of unrest, and especially over the weekend. Given this observation, the report suggests “strengthening ammunition production capacity, increasing stockpiles, and promoting stockpile resupply.” » All with the aim of protecting against the risk of shortages, especially in the event of intense violence over a long period.

On the equipment side, senators advocate for a larger drone fleet, advocating the deployment of walking cameras (with remote triggering and continuous recording) and the installation of more effective night-time video surveillance systems.

Finally, the report recommends the use of code-marked products (PMCs), which were not used during the riots, although they have advantages in collecting evidence, are invisible to the naked eye and are considered harmless.