The Aix Marseille Provence Metropolis wants to arm the agents of the Régie des Transports Marseillais, who work on buses, metro and tramways.
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The president of the Aix-Marseille Provence metropolis wishes to arm the agents of the Assistance and Protection Group (GAP) of the RTM, who intervene against fraud and incivility in the buses, metro and tramways of France's second city. Martine Vassal made a request to the Ministry of Transport and the Interior for a modification of the law to establish a new regulatory framework allowing this equipment. What weapons? What level of insecurity in Marseille? How is it going at the RATP? France 3 Provence-Alpes answers three questions on this issue.
Are these lethal weapons?
No, these are non-lethal weapons. Martine Vassal wants to arm the agents of the Assistance and Protection Group (GAP) of the Marseille Transport Authority with category B or D weapons, to combat acts of delinquency on a daily basis. Batons or tear gas bombs, but in no case firearms.
This brigade, created three years ago in Marseille, initially had around forty agents, deployed from 1 p.m. to midnight, 7 days a week, throughout the city's public transport network. Since 2021, they are equipped with integrated pedestrian cameras. In 2023, their number was increased to 80, all equipped with stab vests.
-As planned since its creation, the GPA workforce will be doubled by the end of this year, to 99 agents. The president of the Metropolis wants them to also be able to carry out identity checks and searches.
Are incidents of delinquency in transport in Marseille increasing?
No. According to the Metropolis, since 2018, incidents of delinquency and insecurity in transport have fallen by 20% in Marseille and by 33% across the entire metropolitan network. “We want to fight against the feeling of insecurity and above all we want to keep our agents safe,” however declared President Vassal.
According to figures from the Metropolis, the GAP carried out 6,700 interventions in 2024, mainly for incivility such as tagging and vandalism, but also in support of bus drivers who have been attacked or even sexist and sexual attacks.
Are RATP agents armed?
Yes. Martine Vassal draws on the example of Network protection and security group of the RATP. GPSR agents have batons and tear gas bombs. Since 2018, the thousand Parisian security agents have also been equipped with a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, the same as that used by the national police. They can only use it in self-defense. These agents must obtain a firearm license, renewable every five years and issued by the police headquarters.
Lthe Savary law, (New window)voted in 2016 in the post-attack context, authorized this equipment for RATP and SNCF agents, but also municipal police officers. In addition to equipping them with more powerful weapons, the law allows, for example, agents to patrol in plain clothes and authorizes baggage searches and pat-downs on travelers.(New window).
