Service de Protection des Hautes Personnalités
Encyclopedia
The Service de Protection des Hautes Personnalités (SPHP) or in English, VIP Protection Service, is a unit within the French National Police
which is responsible for the protection of French and Foreign dignitaries and the provision of technical security support. The SPHP also implements the necessary measures for the organization and security of official visits in France and abroad.
. Its members are recruited from within the French National Police
, after three years of minimum service in the National Police, and after a period of training, holding office for one term, renewable for 5 years.
The Service de Protection des Haute Personalités includes:
The SPHP was established in 1934 under the name of "Official Travels Service" ("Voyages officiels" or "VO" in French) after the assassination of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia
and Louis Barthou
in Marseilles. It adopted its current name in 1994. The SPHP is presently headed by Inspector General Jean-Louis Fiamenghi, who assumed the post in November 2007. Inspector General Fiamenghi was previously head of Recherche Assistance Intervention Dissuasion
(RAID), another unit within the French National Police
.
French National Police
The National Police , formerly the Sûreté Nationale, is one of two national police forces and the main civil law enforcement agency of France, with primary jurisdiction in cities and large towns. The other main agency is the military Gendarmerie, with primary jurisdiction in smaller towns and rural...
which is responsible for the protection of French and Foreign dignitaries and the provision of technical security support. The SPHP also implements the necessary measures for the organization and security of official visits in France and abroad.
Organization
The service includes nearly 600 police officers and is headquartered on rue de Miromesnil in Paris near the Ministry of the Interior and the Palais de l'Élysée. The SPHP also has a permanent office in Strasbourg; home to several European institutions, including the European ParliamentEuropean Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. Its members are recruited from within the French National Police
French National Police
The National Police , formerly the Sûreté Nationale, is one of two national police forces and the main civil law enforcement agency of France, with primary jurisdiction in cities and large towns. The other main agency is the military Gendarmerie, with primary jurisdiction in smaller towns and rural...
, after three years of minimum service in the National Police, and after a period of training, holding office for one term, renewable for 5 years.
The Service de Protection des Haute Personalités includes:
- the Security Group of the Presidency of the Republic (GSPR);
- Along with operators from the Recherche Assistance Intervention Dissuasion (RAID), a number of SPHP members serve with the joint security group Groupe de sécurité de la présidence de la RépubliqueGroupe de Sécurité de la Présidence de la RépubliqueThe Security Group for the Presidency of the Republic is the security unit in charge of the safety of President of France.In the past, the group was composed of 30 gendarmes and 30 policemen and a Lieutenant-Colonel of Gendarmerie or a Commissaire divisionnaire de Police was alternately in...
, which is tasked with protecting the President of France. - Sub-Directorate of French dignitaries, which includes:
- the Security Group of the Prime Minister (GSPM);
- the Security Group of the Ministry of Interior (GSMI);
- Sub-directorate for foreign dignitaries;
- Sub-directorate for persons at risk;
- Sub-direction of resources and operational support (which has an operational support group).
The SPHP was established in 1934 under the name of "Official Travels Service" ("Voyages officiels" or "VO" in French) after the assassination of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia
Alexander I of Yugoslavia
Alexander I , also known as Alexander the Unifier was the first king of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia as well as the last king of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes .-Childhood:...
and Louis Barthou
Louis Barthou
Jean Louis Barthou was a French politician of the Third Republic.-Early years:He was born in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and served as Deputy from that constituency. He was an authority on trade union history and law. Barthou was Prime Minister in 1913, and held ministerial office...
in Marseilles. It adopted its current name in 1994. The SPHP is presently headed by Inspector General Jean-Louis Fiamenghi, who assumed the post in November 2007. Inspector General Fiamenghi was previously head of Recherche Assistance Intervention Dissuasion
Recherche Assistance Intervention Dissuasion
Recherche Assistance Intervention Dissuasion or RAID is, like the GIPN, a Special Operations tactical unit of the National Police with more manpower and equipment...
(RAID), another unit within the French National Police
French National Police
The National Police , formerly the Sûreté Nationale, is one of two national police forces and the main civil law enforcement agency of France, with primary jurisdiction in cities and large towns. The other main agency is the military Gendarmerie, with primary jurisdiction in smaller towns and rural...
.