Vigipirate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vigipirate (French: Plan Vigipirate) is France's national security alert system. Created in 1978 by President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, it has since been activated three times: in 1995 (following an Islamist terror bombing campaign), 2000, and 2003.
"Vigipirate" is the contraction of "vigilance" (vigilance) or "vigie" (watchtower) and "pirate" (pirate).
The system defines four levels of threats represented by four colours: yellow, orange, red, crimson.
The system calls for specific security measures, including increased police or police/military mixed patrols in subways, train stations and other vulnerable locations.
Contents |
[edit] Levels of alert
| Levels of alert for "Plan Vigipirate" | |
|---|---|
| Yellow level | |
| Raise security levels to face real yet still uncertain dangers, through measures that are local and minimally disruptive of normal activity, while preparing to switch to "orange" or "red" within a few days. | |
| Orange level | |
| Take measures against plausible risks of terrorist action, including the use of means that are moderately disruptive to normal public activities, while preparing to switch to "red" or "crimson" on short notice where possible. | |
| Red level | |
| Take measures against a proven risk of one or more terrorist actions, including measures to protect public institutions and putting in place appropriate means for rescue and response, authorizing a significant level of disruption to social and economic activity. | |
| Crimson level | |
| Notification of a risk of major attacks, simultaneous or otherwise, using non-conventional means and causing major devastation; preparing appropriate means of rescue and response, measures that are highly disruptive to public life are authorized. | |
[edit] Assessing situations and applicable measures
Specialised services assess threats on a schedule dependent on national and international circumstances. Those services propose changes to the alert level to the President of the Republic and to the Prime Minister, who have the authority to trigger "Plan Vigipirate" and decide on an appropriate alert level. The relevant monitoring, prevention and protection measures are then implemented by the appropriate authorities: national and local government agencies, the SNCF, RATP, affected airports, etc.
When the Vigipirate plan is active with respect to terror bombings, the following measures are activated:
- Certain public trashcans are removed, or sealed. Typically, they are replaced by low cardboard boxes, or transparent bags. This makes hiding a bomb more difficult, and also reduces opportunities for the container becoming shrapnel. Metallic bars are installed under train or subway seats in order to prevent bomb parcels from being deposited there.
- Patrols of police (generally, CRS) or gendarmerie (generally, mobiles) officers, or mixed patrols consisting of police or gendarmerie law-enforcement officers and military troops, circulate in sensitive areas (subways such as the Paris Métro, train stations, airports). Visitors may be surprised at the sight of soldiers carrying FAMAS assault rifles; however, the rifles are not loaded, but soldiers carry ammunition. The decision to fire is taken by the law enforcement officer. There has been so far one occasion where a soldier has fired his weapons. Military personnel in such patrols is generally from the Army, though patrols in airports may use fusiliers from the Air Force.
- The public is called to be vigilant, and to report any unattended luggage or suspicious parcels.
- Security checks are made at the entrance of buildings, both public and private. Side entrances may be closed.
The new version of "Plan Vigipirate" is more versatile than the previous one. It is the framework for other more specific rescue or intervention plans, with names like Biotox, Piratox or Piratome, depending on the type of threat expected.
The plan relies on joint participation and the reinforcement of a culture of security in all the plan's agents. It advances the principle of shared responsibility: each agent must take into account the risks involved, from individual citizens to government agencies specifically charged with anti-terrorism activities. Surveillance must be continuous and security teams must constantly be formed and trained.
[edit] History of alert levels
| 26 January 2004 | Yellow level | |
| 12 March 2004 | Red level | Only affecting road and rail transport, due to the bombing of trains in Madrid on the 11th of March 2004 |
| 24 May 2004 | Red level | |
| 8 June 2004 | Orange level | |
| 8 July 2004 | Orange level | |
| 7 July 2005 | Red level | Due to the bombing of Underground trains and a bus in London on the 7th of July 2005 |
After the bombing of trains in Madrid on the 11th of March 2004, the Vigipirate alert level rose first to "orange" and then to "red" for all SNCF railway stations. It was also elevated to red by Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin after the London Underground and bus bombings of the 7th of July 2005.
[edit] See also
[edit] Trivia
Opponents of the plan derisively call it "Plan Vichypirate", in reference to the Vichy regime, because of its influence on citizens' privacy.
[edit] External links
- (French) Website of the Prime Minister.
