Central level

The President has the powers to declare a State of Emergency for the state. These allow greater executive powers in search and seizure and censorship with judicial oversight. A state of emergency was last invoked in 2015, following terror attacks in Paris.

The central government is responsible for:

• The overall legislation;
• The planning and management of crisis and incidents taking place both in France and abroad;
• Protection of the state in response to:
• Threats of aggression.
• Disasters of all kinds and catastrophes.
• Environmental Threats.
• Monitoring of operations and reporting accidents and catastrophes;
• Preparation of rescue measures and co-ordination of emergency resources.

Regional and intermediate level

Uniquely to this policy area, under the territorial defence regulation, France regional authorities in civil protection are known as zones of defence and security. These are used solely in the planning of emergency response and organisation. These administrative units are managed at the central level.

The zone prefect co-ordinates emergency resources in the zone. The prefect has the assistance of the Interregional Civil Security Operational Co-ordination Centre (COZ).

Intermediate level

Departmental authorities are responsible for:

• Traffic police
• Public and private Emergency resources.
• Fire brigades employed at departmental level (often financed by local authorities).

Local ​level

Municipal authorities are responsible for:

• Fire brigades, which may be posted to the municipal level.

Municipal authorities are in charge of coherence within their local gendarmes. As such, municipalities operationalise national consultations for each policeman and gendarme to give their opinions via questionnaires, and  meetings conducted by the municipalities with associations of elected officials, police union organizations and consultation structures. the Gendarmerie, representatives of municipal policemen, actors of private security and transport, experts.

Responsible ministries/bodies

Ministry of Interior

Zonal Prefect

Sources

The 1950 Ordinance and 1965 Decree relating to civil defence.

The Law of 22 July 1987 as amended by the Laws of 5 January 1988 and 28 November 1990 with respect to civil security

The Order of 24 August 2000 concerning the organisation and powers of the Directorate of Civil Defence and Security.

France, Disaster Management Profile, European Commission (Under Review)

Ministry of Interior: Policing