The CRS who strike their shields, a technique of maintaining order?

A republican security company (CRS), November 17, 2020, in Paris.

(illustration) -

• Attempted intimidation?

  New form of approach to demonstrators?

• The viral video of a Republican Security Company (CRS) unit banging on its shields at the approach of a rally on the Place de la République, in Paris, has raised questions from many Internet users.

• This technique is common among

  the police

  , as confirmed to

  20 Minutes by

  the national police and two journalists used to covering demonstrations.

Tuesday, November 24, on the Place de la République, in Paris, the people gathered to denounce the police violence and the “no-reception policy” of refugees will not have had to wait for members of a republican security company. (CRS) are stationed a few meters from them to realize their presence.

The latter had indeed announced their arrival thanks to the regular rhythm of the beating of their batons on their shields, maintained in rhythm throughout their progression towards the Place de la République, as can be seen on the video of the journalist Taha. Bouhafs about this "freaking scene of the CRS arriving at Place de la République, hitting their shields to intimidate the demonstrators".

They arrive ...

freaking scene of the CRS arriving at Place de la # République, knocking on their shields to intimidate the demonstrators.

pic.twitter.com/G393snC9n0

- Taha Bouhafs 🔻 (@T_Bouhafs) November 24, 2020

The day after the decried evacuation of the refugees gathered in the same place by the police, which gave rise to the opening of two judicial inquiries entrusted to the IGPN, and in the midst of a debate around the adoption of the bill on “global security”, the sequence quickly went viral.

For many Internet users, it is symbolic of a threatening posture of the police in this context of tensions.

But this practice is in reality nothing unusual.

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Contacted by

, Taha Bouhafs specifies that he filmed his video on Tuesday “at 8:16 pm”: “The gathering which took place at the foot of the statue of the Republic was starting to empty, some people wanted to launch a wild demonstration on the boulevard, by blocking cars.

This is where [the CRS] arrived.

They slapped on their shields until they got close to the protesters, before lining up next to them and not moving, even when they received projectiles.

"

The journalist, used to covering demonstrations, had already seen such a practice in the past among the CRS: "In the protests a little hot, they bang on their shields to freak out the less reckless, as if to say" we are coming. ".

There, what shocked people is that, in the current context, it does not go in the direction of de-escalation, it sounds a little "warrior spirit".

"

The independent journalist Clément Lanot, also present at the rally organized that evening at Place de la République, considers that this practice of “bludgeoning” shields is “quite common”: “I have been covering demonstrations since 2016 and I have seen forces order hit their shields a dozen times, including during the evacuation of the refugees the day before, in République.

In general, when the CRS do that, it's because there are already tensions with the demonstrators, so the CRS want to push them back by impressing them, without charging or bludgeoning them.

The protesters don't really like it.

"

A technique taught to CRS "for many years"

Reached by

, the information and communication service of the national police (Sicop) also confirms that this technique is "common" within CRS units: "The act of hitting the shield is not a declaration of war against the demonstrators.

On the occasion of offensive maneuvers, there are three phases: the cadenced step, which can be reinforced by the impact on the shields, the gymnastic step and the charge.

"

“Faced with an aggressive crowd, which is not in a desire for appeasement, the agents hit the pace on the shield with their stick, with two desired effects.

On the one hand, to create a strong psychological impact in situations of disturbance to public order.

And, on the other hand, to give a rhythm to the unit as it progresses.

CRSs have been trained in this technique in a specific framework for many years, ”concludes Sicop.

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