I'm from France, and we have several police departments.
Gendarme's, they are Military that become police officers, if you back chat them they will arrest you and they will never cause a situation to escalate, they are like psychoanalysts with assault rifles. Very calm but if they are on your case, it means you've done something bad, so you deserve it.
La Police, standard Police force, a bit like most Police forces in the world were you get some bad egg's that spoil the bunch but in general they are pretty good, I was witness at 1.00am in the underground of them opening up the Metro gates for plastic gangsters with no money to get home because otherwise those kids would have been out on the street's if they couldn't get home, and that act of compassion probably helped their PR when you think about it.
Police Municipal, these guys are the ones that failed all the test's for joining the Military, Police, Gendarmes and are generally Bouncers, Meat Heads and ex Plastic Gangsters trying to make an honest living, unfortunately they have a tendency to have an aggressive manner of speaking to people but are good foot soldiers for Police presence.
CRS, they are Riot Control, you find them in hotspots such as St Lazare Paris, got a bad rep, but are really good, they carry FAMAS'.
In Paris you often find 3 guys in Red Camo, one point man, two either side several metres back, they carry FAMAS', don't look at them in the eye, don't talk to them.
For they are Foreign Legion
IN general I like my countries Police, since I live in England I can act the tourist and get help from them when back in France.
JoJo said:
UK police seems pretty decent, not that I've had much experience with them, but they generally do their job well and without being armed to the teeth like many other countries police are either. A guy I used to know became a policeman and he was pretty cool so yeah...
UK Police are brilliant, its just the poor sods are really really overworked, you guys need more police departments to handle different situations since SO19 are emergency only and the DPG are never used unless its for Diplomats, foreign dignitaries or Ministers, basically anyone like you and me that need help on the streets.