In case of emergency
SAMU (medical emergencies): 15
Police emergency: 17
Fire service emergency: 18
European emergency line: 112
The police, understanding the French legal system
In case of attack or theft, you can report it to:
either the nearest police station or gendarmerie to where the attack was carried out
or to the state prosecutor’s department of a higher level court [for cases of a serious nature] of the place where the attack was carried out, or of the place of residence of the person who carried out the attack if they can be identified.
Local addresses SeeLes Pages jaunes [Yellow Pages] for the address of the appropriate department.
http://www.pagesjaunes.fr/pj.cgi?TYPE_ACTION=PJ_VDS&RUBRIQUES=70103400,70101300&NOM_SERVICE=MAIRIE,TRIBUNAL+DE+GRANDE+INSTANCE&ZONE_GEO=2,1
In case of dispute with a hotel, restaurant, retailer… you must contact the Direction Départementale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes [departmental consumer rights organization] of the Department where the incident occurred.
Addresses:< See Les Pages Jaunes [Yellow Pages] for the address of the appropriate department
http://www.pagesjaunes.fr/pj.cgi?TYPE_ACTION=PJ_VDS&RUBRIQUES=70101200&NOM_SERVICE=CONCURRENCE&ZONE_GEO=1 Your country’s embassy and consulate
You can always keep in contact with the authorities of your country through your embassy or consulate in France.
http://www.expatries.diplomatie.gouv.fr/annuaires/annuaires.htm In case of crime committed by yourself
If you commit an offence you are liable to various sentences in the same way as a French citizen, whether a driving offence, travelling without a ticket on public transport, for being under the influence of alcohol on a public highway or for brawling in a café.
Legal Action
If in the case of a problem you wish to take legal action for a given reason, the Ordre des Avocats [lawyers association] provide free and open consultation to all at the court buildings and at certain town halls. |