New guard plan for stressed CRS

THE NUMBER of police guarding "at-risk" buildings in Paris could be halved because growing numbers of officers are falling ill with stress.

Hundreds of CRS riot police have been stationed outside media companies, government buildings and Jewish and Muslim organisations since the Charlie Hebdo attacks in January.

The interior ministry says the anti-terror Plan Vigipirate will remain at its current level, but the requirements placed on police officers will be rearranged, with more emphasis on rotating spot checks at key buildings instead of a permanent guard.

It comes after a sharp rise in the number of police being signed off work with stress. Trade union Unsa says the level of alert since January is having a big impact on officers' personal lives, with staff having to cancel holidays and training and rearrange their family commitments

In return they are paid an extra €30 a day. Officers at several CRS units have taken sick leave en masse.

The interior ministry says there will still be about 150 police officers giving support to gendarmes outside at-risk locations, and another 150 on rotation visiting places at random intervals.

The reduced measures should be visible from Friday, but staff at some newspapers in the capital have already seen a reduction in the number of police guards outside their offices.