If you want to be a police officer, you are surely very motivated. You want to help your community and protect people from crime.
Becoming a police officer has many advantages. You earn well. You have social benefits. Your job is secure. You can also advance in your career.
Becoming a police officer means serving; it is an active job. It also means enjoying good pay and job stability. For this profession, a high school diploma is required. Then, you must undergo training. It is important to have certain skills such as being fit, being able to speak, and solving problems.
The national police: an essential service for society
The national police helps keep people safe in France. It fights crime and maintains public order. The missions of the police include protecting people and their properties.
Different types of police services exist in France. There is the national police, but also the gendarmerie, the municipal police, and the judicial police. To become a police officer, one must pass a competitive exam. After that, one can take other exams to become an officer of the police, for example.
| Staff of the Police Prefecture | Main Missions |
|---|---|
| 42,616 agents (as of December 31, 2018) |
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Why work at the police prefecture
Becoming a peacekeeper after the National School of Police (ENSP) opens doors. You can then take internal exams to advance in rank. Officers are the leaders, assisting police commissioners.
Officers lead brigades and important investigations. They also assist in difficult cases. Sometimes, they will work at the Ministry of the Interior or abroad.
Moving from peacekeeper to police officer takes time. After that, internal exams are necessary. Then, there is an 18-month training at the ENSP.
The path to becoming a police officer
Becoming a police officer in the national police is a great dream. You can take the external peacekeeper exam. It is open to holders of the baccalaureate.
There is also the internal exam for certain people already in the police. They must be security assistants or technical assistants. The main requirement to participate in the exam is to be 18 years old. You must also hold a baccalaureate or an equivalent diploma.
You must be clear regarding national service. And have no convictions that would hinder becoming a police officer.
If you pass the exam, you will need to go to training at the national police school. There, you will learn many things to be the best police officer possible.
There are different ranks in the national police such as peacekeeper. You can rise in rank up to police commissioner. Police officers are in between.
| Exam Criteria | Training and Ranks |
|---|---|
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The different jobs at the police prefecture
At the police prefecture, there are various and exciting jobs. They are grouped into four important categories. Some work in engineering and technology, like cyber defense experts. Others do translation, for example, being a cooperation agent or translator. A third category concerns investigations. There are investigators specialized in open sources or cybercrime. And finally, there are analysts. They can be technical, thematic, or writers.
Special police officers may work in intelligence. They can go to the DGSI, which fights against terrorism. Or to the SCRT, which protects government officials. It is also the one that prevents threats on the territory.
If you enjoy technical jobs or investigations, the police prefecture is for you. It offers many career opportunities in public safety.
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