Report “We must not miss it”: how the police officers responsible for the protection of public figures are preparing to supervise the commemoration of the landing in Provence

A major international tribute ceremony will take place on Thursday in the Var, in the presence of Emmanuel Macron and African representatives.

On August 15, 1944, 350,000 soldiers landed on the coast of Provence as part of Operation Dragoon, intended to open a second front on French territory during the Second World War. Among them, a majority of French and African soldiers. A tribute is paid to them on Thursday, August 15 in Saint-Raphaël and Toulon, in the Var. Emmanuel Macron will be present, accompanied by several heads of state and government representatives, particularly African ones.

A ceremony placed under very high surveillance and prepared in advance by the police officers of the SDLP (protection service), a shadow service responsible for the protection of personalities and which is mobilized for this event. Franceinfo was able to attend part of their secret preparation in Toulon.

Far from their usual costume with earpiece and sunglasses, the hundred SDLP police officers are in casual dress, in full briefing at the Var prefecture before the ceremony. The officers in charge of protecting a personality take turns to give an update on the organization. Nothing is left to chance, all situations are anticipated and if we obviously cannot relay them, ultra-sensitive information is mentioned.

Some agents have in front of them a file with maps, photos, diagrams made in particular by Fabrice. This commander has been walking the Saint-Raphaël sector for 15 days to study the terrain and know every nook and cranny. “We see what the different accesses are for official processions or we see where parking can be donehe explains. We can see how the peripheral, perimeter and on-site personnel can position themselves since the protocol, the media and the cameras can have an impact on our placement.”

From this study, decisions are then made that will impact the entire system, and in particular Sylvie’s work. She is a security officer, in other words a bodyguard, and is responsible for this event for the protection of a head of state that she will not let go of. Concretely, her work, “It’s about taking him from point A to point B safely. As soon as he arrives on French territory, we take care of his safety, until he leaves we are focused on him, but not only on him, we are also focused on the environment. And in fact, we try to have our eyes everywhere because anything can happen at any time”, explains Sylvie.

“It’s got everything: attention, stress, adrenaline.”

Sylvie, security officer at SLDP

to franceinfo

The protection service has been preparing for this ceremony for six months. It must be said that there are many issues at stake according to its chief Luc Présson. “For us, it is a sensitive event because we have important external personalities, heads of state and government. But also, because it is a French commemoration. We must not miss it of course, because it is the representation of France.” One more event for the SDLP to manage in an already very busy year, including the Normandy landing ceremonies, the visit of the Chinese president, the Olympic Games and soon the Paralympic Games.