THEY MIGHT be lampooned by left-wing demonstrators as a bunch of truncheon-happy meatheads but that doesn’t mean French riot police don’t appreciate a nice glass of Burgundy with their lunch.
The notorious Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurite, or CRS, are outraged at an official decree stating that they can no longer drink wine or beer with their meals.
Until now, a civilised tipple was part of the daily lunch menu of the controversial force, lauded by Nicolas Sarkozy, whose trademark black body armour and riot shields are a regular sight on French streets.
A glass of wine, beer or cider – but not spirits – was always permitted with lunch, including while on duty. Even packed lunches provided out of riot vans while they were patrolling demonstrations came with a can of beer or glass of wine.
However in October last year, authorities were annoyed when pictures published on the website Backchich showed uniformed riot police swigging beer from cans on the sidelines of a sixth-formers’ street protest against pension reforms. The website reported that having told locals it was too dangerous to go outside, officers stopped to have a beer on a street corner.
Police unions expressed their fury at the new decree. Paul Le Guennec, of the biggest riot police union, Unité Police SGP-FO, said the French public had not seemed shocked at the notion of a CRS officer drinking at lunch.
"Does the fact that having a glass of wine while eating prevent any kind of worker from carrying out their job? I don't think the chief of police drinks water when he's having a meal," he told the paper Le JDD.
The union argued that the CRS did not have a higher incidence of alcohol problems than the rest of society, saying a small drink with lunch was in line with French labour law. – ( Guardianservice)