Under the hardwoods of the Bois de Boulogne, on a bridle path, Nicolas and Anthony drive at a moderate pace and look attentively around them: these two police officers on bicycles are part of the BTC, the territorial contact brigade of the 16th arrondissement of Paris.
In this 8-hectare wood located in the west of Paris, they arrest customers of prostitutes, they carry out identity and narcotics checks.
“With bicycles, we are more discreet,” explains Nicolas, who has been a police officer since 2014.
By car or by bike, the BTC patrols the entire wealthy district of western Paris, from Trocadéro to Boulogne, passing through all the small parks hidden between the buildings.
"We are complementary with the patrol cars", explains Anthony, Nicolas' partner, "for example when we arrest someone, a car can come to take him to the police station".
Today, at least four other districts of Paris see these bicycle brigades circulating, but also other cities in France such as Marseille or Montpellier.
“Crime is evolving, launches Anthony, so our means must also evolve.
»
