Beware fake census officers

Police are warning people to be on their guard as they believe burglars could use this year's French census as an opportunity to get into people's homes.

Census officers are calling at properties in 8,000 communes across France from now until February 27, gathering information about some nine million residents.

Taking part in the questionnaire is compulsory but the Police Nationale says the officer does not have to see the inside of your home.

If you live in one of the affected communes, you should receive a letter in the post a few days before the planned visit. This website can tell you if your commune is one of those covered by this year's census.

The officer from the national statistics agency Insee who calls at your door must show you their ID card, which will have the French tricolore in the corner, their photograph and the signature of the local mayor.

They will hand you a paper questionnaire and arrange for it to be collected at a later date or handed into the mairie, or you can opt to answer the questions online instead.

The Police Nationale says burglars have been known to pose as census officers to gain a person's trust and be let into their home. If in doubt, call the police on 17.