Anger over plan to stop French police’s lifeguard role

A PLAN to withdraw police officers from lifeguard duty on French beaches is facing fierce opposition by mayors concerned about safety and terrorism.

For six decades, riot police acting as lifeguards have been a reassuring presence on French beaches.

But many have been stood down and the rest are due to be withdrawn in Emmanuel Macron’s budget cuts.

Mayors and MPS fear an increase in drownings and say tourists could be put at the mercy of “rowdy behaviour”, not to mention terrorist incidents.

After a string of such attacks, in 2016 CRS riot police began bringing their guns while on lifeguard duty at the country’s busiest resorts during July and August. But their numbers dwindled as successive governments cut costs, many being redeployed on to the streets.

This year only 300 CRS officers served as lifeguards, compared with 720 in 2002 and 500 in 2015. They cost the state £4 million a year, which is too expensive, according to the French national audit office.

Gérard Collomb, the interior minister, plans to end CRS lifeguard duty, saying: “Keeping watch over beaches and helping people in difficulty while swimming is not a core CRS mission.”

Daniel Fasquelle, a conservative MP in Calais, said: “Removing the CRS would be a loss for the safety of our citizens and foreign tourists because they can supervise swimmers, prevent rowdy behaviour and take action against the threat of a terrorist attack.”

Cyril Lambert, a CRS lifeguard and police union representative, said: “Our presence on beaches is essential, given the risk of attacks.”

The French government wants local communities to foot the bill for civilian lifeguards, possibly backed up by unarmed municipal police.

However Mr Fasquelle added: “Safety on the beach and elsewhere is a responsibility of the state, not of local communities.”