France

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Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 April 2012 14:20

Written by John de Belle

	France This is worn by customs officers of the landing watching branch (borders, airports and seaports). It's representing France with its colours (blue, white, red) protected by a green strip on which "DOUANES" (customs in French) is written. Why a green strip? Because in the last century, custom officers uniform was green colour. On the centre of the patch, a grenade with seven flashes (or flames?) is surrounded by a horn. This insignia was given in 1875 to the military custom corps in active service. In 1886, it became the official customs badge. Today, "les Douanes Françoise" (French Customs) are a civil government service, under authority of the ministry of Economy, Finances and Industry (Treasury), but they kept this insignia for agents who are working in the landing watching branch. This patch is grappled (with Velcro) on the shirt (in summer) or on the pull over (in winter).
	Variation 2 Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Variation 3 Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Variation 4 Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	French Customs - Collar Insignia The 7 flames are the sign of our former Napoleonian battalion (Chasseurs) and the horn is to remember that we were a battalion of "Voltigeurs" (other elite regiment) - information supplied by Jean-Francois Fouque
New addition	Paris special service is a service of fifty agents regarding the monitoring part. The role of this service is provided to Directorates Interregional wishing Agents temporarily.  Those affected so they find themselves temporarily in service or missing personnel. Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
New addition	Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Customs Judiciary Roy Stammwitz collection
	Customs Judiciary (variation of above insignia) Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Customs Judiciary Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
New addition	Customs Judiciary G7 Roy Stammwitz collection
	Research Brigade Financial Intervention BRIF Paris Roy Stammwitz collection
	This patch is confirmed to be French Customs, thanks to Jean-Francois Fouque for his confirmation to be French. His explanation is as follows: ASND -The French patch with ASND is for Association Sportive Nationale des Douanes (National Sport Association of Customs Department) You can see the European stars and two sport shoes. Thank you for that information Jean!
	This patch is worn on the mountain anorak with the curved Customs shoulder patch. Used only by Customs Officers working in the mountainous areas, eg Chamonix for example. No longer in use as this patch has been super ceded by the first patch, the round variation. Thanks to Roland Briand for this information.
	Worn on the anorak of mountain in winters (model even more old, prior to 1993) Thanks to Roland Briand for this information.
	Variation of above insignia Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Variation of above insignia Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Customs Shoulder Patch - version 1, Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Customs Shoulder Patch - version 2, Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Customs Shoulder Patch - version 3, Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Customs Shoulder Patch - version 4
	Customs Shoulder Patch - version 5
	Blue / silver text patch, breast insignia
	Text breast patch left side black - silver
	Text breast patch, type V
	Text breast patch variation - Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Text breast patch variation - Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Text breast patch variation - Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Text breast patch variation - Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Text breast patch variation - Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Text breast patch variation - Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Text breast patch variation - Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Customs Marine / Aviation Patch The patch is that of the aviators (with the wings) Thanks to  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for this information.
	Air and ground division, city of Dugny. Scan proudly sent to me by Bruno Ursch.
	Beret Patch This is the old patch of the hat of the female personnel. Thanks to Roland Briand for this information.
	France Customs Motorcycle patch, used in place of the badge, in order to protect the badge. Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	French Customs Motorcycle patch. Referred to as the metal star, a highly sort after role within French Customs Manuel Ryckembeusch collection
	Customs Breast Patch This is worn on the shirt, just on top of the left pocket.
	Customs Breast Patch - Variation

Insignia of French Customs

Comments concerning the "license plate" DNED

After the 2nd world war, the National Management of the Repression of the Customs Frauds (DNRFD) had the role of developing the actions of investigation of the Customs on the whole of the territory.

The agents of the Division of Search, more especially in charge of the fight against smuggling, had to intervene in residential areas, often on the public highway and under conditions not very favourable with long legal explanations at the time of the interceptions.

If the average citizen knew what was the Customs, it did not have any idea owing to the fact that it could act far from the borders. On the other hand, he knew well the "license plate " which was for a police officer the usual mode to be identified.

The cinema had popularized it with the image of the outgoing agent of a gesture a little theatrical a plate of its pocket and announcement "POLICE!! ".

With the "plates of customs", the DNRFD had wanted to provide to its agents Search a means of facilitating their identification.

Commentaires concernant la "plaque de police" DNED

AprËs la 2Ëme guerre mondiale, la Direction Nationale de la RÈpression des Fraudes DouaniËres (DNRFD) a eu pour mission de dÈvelopper les actions d'investigation de la Douane sur l'ensemble du territoire.

Les agents de la Division des Recherches, plus spÈcialement chargÈs de la lutte contre la contrebande, Ètaient appelÈs ‡ intervenir dans des zones urbanisÈes, souvent sur la voie publique et dans des conditions peu propices ‡ de longues explications juridiques au moment des interpellations.

Si le citoyen moyen savait ce qu'Ètait la Douane, il n'avait aucune idÈe du fait qu'elle pouvait agir loin des frontiËres. En revanche, il connaissait bien la "plaque de police" qui Ètait pour un policier le mode habituel de s'identifier.

Le cinÈma l'avait popularisÈ avec l'image de l'agent sortant d'un geste un peu thÈatral une plaque de sa poche et annoncant "POLICE !!".Avec les "plaques de douane", la DNRFD avait voulu fournir ‡ ses agents des Recherches un moyen de faciliter leur identification.