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An evaluation of an experimental non-residential training program for Gardiens de la Paix.
Thu, September 4, 2:30 to 3:45pm, Communications Building (CN), CN 2111Abstract
This paper evaluates an experimental non-residential police training program in France. Faced with recruitment challenges and increasing demands, the French police nationale is exploring new approaches to attract and diversify its recruits. In this context, they launched an experimental training scheme.
Traditionally, initial training for gardiens de la paix follows a year-long, residential, military-style program characterized by strict discipline and limited personal freedom. Recruits are randomly assigned to schools across the country, undergoing a demanding 'rite of passage' that fosters internal cohesion but also represents a sharp break from their previous lives. While some view this as essential for forging strong professional bonds, it may also discourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, including older and more mature applicants, women, and ethnic minorities—ultimately affecting police diversity and representation. The non-residential option, introduced as an experiment in a few police schools, could help break barriers and attract applications from a more diverse range of candidates.
This study is based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in four police schools, where the researchers, in most cases, lived under the same conditions as the trainees. This immersive approach facilitated direct observation, interviews, focus groups, and informal discussions, helping to navigate the French police’s traditionally insular culture. The research examines the perspectives of key stakeholders (recruits, trainers, and managers), and the effects of the non-residential regime on trainees' performance, integration, and cohesion between non-residential and residential sections. Ultimately, the study addresses broader issues of police socialisation, police legitimacy and the complex relationship between law enforcement and the public in France.