24 mars 2023 · French police caught on tape during protest arrest: 'I can tell you, we have broken elbows and faces' In an audio recording obtained by 'Le Monde', several police officers threaten young. The National Police ( French: Police nationale ), formerly known as the Sûreté nationale, is one of two national police forces of France, the other being the National Gendarmerie. The National Police is the country's main civil law enforcement agency, with primary jurisdiction in cities and large towns.