the essential
The Lot gendarmerie recently expanded its operational capabilities in fresh water by acquiring a new boat. While the boat has been operational since the end of 2023, its official launch took place this Tuesday, April 23 in Cahors.
This initiative aims to improve monitoring of the Lot, Dordogne and Célé rivers. The boat will mainly be used to control navigation on the Lot during the tourist season, but also to supervise fishermen in partnership with the Lot Fishing Federation. In addition, it will allow environmental controls to be carried out, particularly with regard to the discharge of waste and illegal pumping.
Based at the gendarmerie group in Cahors, the boat will be used during spot control operations, with three people on board: two pilots and a gendarme in charge of checks. To carry out these missions, seven gendarmes from the Departmental Road Safety Squadron (ESDR) were trained, with the reinforcement of two reservists.
Colonel Bertrand Loddé, commander of the Lot gendarmerie group, emphasizes that this new equipment will improve the action of the national gendarmerie, particularly in terms of prevention and contact with users of waterways. The prefect of Lot, Claire Raulin, also welcomed this acquisition, affirming that it will contribute “to strengthening the presence of the State in the department and to improving the working conditions of the police, while emphasizing the importance of vigilance in the face of the challenges of the climate crisis. “
