INSIDE THE ANTI-GANG SQUAD | TF1 | Reportages

For 6 months, 24 hours a day, we followed the investigators of the BRI, the Investigation and Reaction Brigade?the anti-gang?as they conducted their cases. In order to understand their operational techniques, we spent 6 months in immersion beside men who are confronted by extreme and often violent situations. 36 Quai des Orfèvres, the Paris Investigative Police HQ. Number 36, as it is known, fascinates novelists and directors of films noirs and it still terrifies criminals. Headed by Christian Flaesch, it houses three elite units: the Criminal Brigade, the Drug Squad and the BRI. Created in the 60s by Commissioner Moel, the “anti-gang” is now run by Commissioner Michel Faury: “the essential quality for officers of the BRI, apart from courage, is, I think, patience. We are often seen through the distorted lens of TV films where a plot is laid, there’s an investigation and an arrest, all in the space of two hours. Actually, it takes weeks, even months of surveillance”. For us to understand their methods, Michel Faury and his deputy, Georges Salinas, gave us permission to accompany officers from group 40 in the field, day and night. Patience, prudence, tenacity and discretion… Plastic, the head of the group, Rémy, Saïd, Jean-Daniel, Thierry and all the members of this brigade never show their faces. Anonymity is vital for officers who are confronted with major crime on a daily basis. “Zero risk doesn’t exist, in absolute terms: we’d need to go around in a tank, but that’s not possible,” jokes Saïd, who was wounded on an assignment three years ago. The anti-gang is the front line force of the whole Ile de France detective agency… in cases of assassination, terrorism, hostage-taking and attacks by maniacs. It’s a life lived under the sign of violence, but also of solidarity. “It’s always a pleasure to get up, to be of service to colleagues. They spend months, weeks identifying those who commit crimes and so it’s a great pleasure to go after them.” Post Office hold-ups, kidnapping, false imprisonment and attempted murder, stakeouts, patrols, tails, blatant crimes, etc.… the members of the BRI are ready to face any situation.