Information About

Vigipirate
  CATEGORIES ABOUT VIGIPIRATE
   
law enforcement in france
   
alert measurement systems
   
disaster preparedness in france
   
SHOPPER'S DELIGHT
 
Shop For:  
Department
Price Minimum:
Price Maximum:
      



Vigipirate ( (following an Islamist Terror Bombing Campaign ), 2000 , and 2003 .

"Vigipirate" is the contraction of "vigilance" (vigilance) or "vigie" (watchtower) and "pirate" (pirate).

The system defines four levels of threats represented by four colors: yellow, orange, red, crimson.

The system calls for specific security measures, including increased police or police/military mixed patrols in subways, train stations and other vulnerable locations.


LEVELS OF ALERT



ASSESSING SITUATIONS AND APPLICABLE MEASURES

, public trashcans have largely been replaced by transparent plastic bags, in which it is difficult to hide a bomb.]]
Specialised services assess threats on a schedule dependant on national and international circumstances. Those services propose changes to the alert level to the , RATP , affected airports, etc.

When the Vigipirate plan is active with respect to terror bombings, the following measures are activated:
  • Certain public trashcans are removed, or sealed. Typically, they are replaced by low cardboard boxes, or transparent bags. This makes hiding a bomb more difficult, and also reduces opportunities for the container becoming Shrapnel . Metallic bars are installed under train or subway seats in order to prevent bomb parcels from being deposited there.

  • Patrols of Police (generally, CRS ) or Gendarmerie (generally, ''mobiles'') officers, or mixed patrols consisting of police or gendarmerie law-enforcement officers and military troops, circulate in sensitive areas (subways such as the Paris Métro , train stations, airports). Visitors may be surprised at the sight of soldiers carrying FAMAS assault rifles; however, the rifles are not loaded, and soldiers may not even carry ammunition. The decision to fire is taken by the law enforcement officer. There has been so far one occasion where a soldier has fired his weapons. Military personnel in such patrols is generally from the Army , though patrols in airports may use fusiliers from the Air Force .

  • The public is called to be vigilant, and to report any unattended luggage or suspicious parcels.

  • Security checks are made at the entrance of buildings, both public and private. Side entrances may be closed.


The new version of "Plan Vigipirate" is more versatile than the previous one. It is the framework for other more specific rescue or intervention plans, with names like Biotox , Piratox or Piratome , depending on the type of threat expected.

The plan relies on joint participation and the reinforcement of a culture of security in all the plan's agents. It advances the principle of shared responsibility: each agent must take into account the risks involved, from individual citizens to government agencies specifically charged with anti-terrorism activities. Surveillance must be continuous and security teams must constantly be formed and trained.


HISTORY OF ALERT LEVELS


After the Bombing Of Trains In Madrid On The 11th Of March 2004 , the Vigipirate alert level rose first to "orange" and then to "red" for all SNCF railway stations. It was also elevated to red by Prime Minister Dominique De Villepin after the London Underground Bombings Of The 7th Of July 2005 .


SEE ALSO



TRIVIA

Opponents of the plan derisively call it "Plan Vichypirate", in reference to the Vichy Regime , because of its influence on citizens' privacy.


EXTERNAL LINKS