The police prefecture and the police station have different roles. They are important for security in France. Understanding this helps to see how the national police assists people.
A police station is where public safety works. There are central police stations and subdivision police stations. These are all under the central police station. There are also police posts to help, but they are not open all day.
The police prefecture, on the other hand, is very important. It is part of the Ministry of the Interior. It handles important missions for the active police. It also coordinates the actions of police teams in the Île-de-France region.
It issues documents such as identity cards and driving licenses. It controls bars and assists in animal health. This is where judicial matters are managed.
So, the police prefecture and the police station are different. The prefecture is for important police coordination tasks. The police station is where local teams work directly with people.
What is a police prefecture?
The police prefecture is led by the police prefect. He works under the Minister of the Interior. It is there to ensure safety in Paris and its surroundings. This includes departments like Hauts-de-Seine and Seine-Saint-Denis. It manages public order and coordinates emergency responses when needed.
This service controls asylum for foreigners in the region. It works in conjunction with other prefecture services.
| Key Statistics | Values |
|---|---|
| Staff of the Police Prefecture | 42,616 agents (as of December 31, 2018) |
| Creation | February 17, 1800 |
| Territorial Jurisdiction | Paris, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne, and the departments of the Greater Crown |
| Aeronautical Competence | Airports of Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Le Bourget, and Paris-Orly |
| Supervisory Authority | Ministry of the Interior |
| Current Police Prefect | Laurent Nuñez (since July 21, 2022) |
The Police Prefecture belongs to the Ministry of the Interior. It takes care of many important matters. This ranges from maintaining public order to issuing permits. It also ensures safety through civil security.
The Prefecture directs actions concerning foreigners applying for asylum. It works closely with other authorities.

Difference between police prefecture and police station
The police prefecture and the police station are different in what they do. The police prefecture helps coordinate the activities of law enforcement in Paris. It also handles administrative tasks, such as issuing documents or checking bars. On the other hand, a police station is the place where local police work. This place can have units for different police tasks. A central police station is a large police post where many teams work together. A subdivision police station depends on the larger one. Then, there are the police posts, smaller and sometimes open only at certain times to assist people. They are not always part of the larger central police station.
In short, the police prefecture does more varied things than the police station. It mainly helps organize the work of police officers in Paris. The police stations, on the other hand, do more everyday policing to assist people who live or work nearby.
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