France: journalists using bodyguards to cover suburb

Posted by Jean Yves Chainon on November 29, 2007 at 4:04 PM

In the last few days, a French suburb went ablaze again after a mysterious and deadly encounter between two young motorcyclists and a police car at Villiers-le-Bel. Although the situation is cooling down, Le Monde reported that journalists were using bodyguards to tour around the town.

Journalists from the Associated Press and the English-language Al-Jazeera network used the services of Respect sécurité to go around the town.

The company now employs 40 people, ready to insure the safety of TV reporters. Respect sécurité became a commercial venture two years ago, after having started as a volunteer-based firm.

Experienced in providing security in suburbs, the company offers traditional security-related services but also covers special events including municipal festivities, concerts, movie sets taking place on the street - and now the protection of journalists.

“They ‘secure’ journalistic investigations, like they do for movie sets,” said a customer reporter.

Among the range of security services provided: telling journalists which ways to go, when to put the camera down, serving as mediators with the population but also as potential protectors.

Fees are €30 per hour, with a minimal ‘subscription’ of four hours.

Source: Le Monde (link in French)