All through August, policeman from Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain will be on the most beautiful avenue in the world to help their French colleagues… and foreign tourists.

photo by georgeogoodman used under cc licence


If you’re from another country and don’t speak much French, it can sometimes be intimidating to ask a French policeman for directions or help. But help is at hand! As part of an exchange program, a handful of police from nearby European countries will be patrolling the Champs Elysées and Versailles this August, dressed in their standard uniform (you should be able to spot them a mile off), helping out their French colleagues and doing the same work as them; answering questions, giving directions, handing out parking tickets, arresting people (if necessary) and selling ice cream. Alright, they won’t be selling ice cream, but it would make a great photo if they did.

photo by Webzeugkoffer used under cc licence

If you are on the Champs Elysées or in Versailles and speak something other than English or French, search them out!

And if you want to see read how the Dutch or Germans are reporting the story, click here or here.

cropped photo by jenniferrt66 used under cc licence