>In France they seem to have the Police National, Police Municipal and the Gendarmes (more rural I think and sort of paramilitary), whereas Italy have something similar to the Gendarmes (Caribinieri) and Spain (Guardia Civil).

What about the CRS in France? Are they the "Gendarmes"? I think that the CRS are the riot police I saw in Guadeloupe, with black uniforms, rubber shin guards, a helmet on the belt, and a much larger gun. Several large groups of them were watching the entrances to the plaza in front of the Palais du Justice, where a political event of some sort was taking place.