France: Law enforcement officers to demonstrate, conduct limited work stoppage nationwide Jan. 18

Law enforcement officers plan to protest and conduct a limited work stoppage across France Jan. 18. The purpose of the actions is to denounce an alleged lack of communication from the Ministry of the Interior regarding logistical plans to divert police from other regions to Paris during the upcoming Summer Olympic Games, as well as to demand bonus and overtime payments for labor performed during the Games. Demonstration organizers have notably called for a protest at the intersection of Avenue Victoria and Rue de la Coutellerie in Paris 12:00-14:00. While the number of people who may participate in the Paris demonstration was not immediately clear, a related demonstration in the capital on Jan. 10 drew about 300 participants.

Demonstration organizers have also called on law enforcement personnel to protest in other locations across the country and only perform minimum services on Jan. 18. Likely protest locations include regional prefecture buildings and local police offices. Planned demonstrations include the following:

• Brest: Protest at the police station on Rue Colbert from 11:15.

• Dijon: Rally in front of the police headquarters at Place Suquet at 10:00 before marching to the Prefecture de la Cote-d'Or building (Rue de la Prefecture).

• Rennes: Protest at the police station on Boulevard de la Tour d'Auvergne from 12:00.

• Toulouse: Protest at the roundabout in front of Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) from 10:00. About 200 police officers are likely to participate; demonstrators plan to set up a barrier.

Localized transport disruptions are likely around all demonstrations. Law enforcement services will likely experience disruptions as participating police only conduct minimal activities. Significant transport disruptions are likely at the entrance to TLS in the late morning and may linger into the early afternoon; consequent disruptions to airport operations cannot be ruled out.