>>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).
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>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.

Oh, yes, I forgot the dreaded CRS (hated by the Youth). No they're not the Gendarmes (as I say, paramilitary - during national service you could join the army, air force, navy, sappeurs pompiers - firemen, the Gendarmerie, or, bizarrely, the civil service. Go figure). The Gendrarmes are the only ones that still wear the kepi now, I think.

Not sure now but I think the Police National are the CRS (or the CRS is a branch thereof) and they tend to do the traffic cop bit (when they're not rubber truncheoning protesting students, as during the Paris riots of the 60s)