Direction centrale de la police aux frontières
The direction centrale de la police aux frontières (DCPAF; English: Central Directorate of the Border Police) is a directorate of the French National Police that is responsible for border control at certain border crossing points in France.
| Central Directorate of the Border Police | |
|---|---|
| Direction centrale de la police aux frontières (French) | |
Logo of PAF | |
| Active | 1999 - present |
| Country | France |
| Agency | National Police |
| Role | Border control |
| Headquarters | 18, rue des Pyrénées, Paris |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Director General Fernand Gontier |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
It was established in 1973 as police de l'air et des frontières. On 29 January 1999, it was given its current name, and its existing organisational character was determined in 2011.
It works alongside its British counterpart, the UK Border Force, at the juxtaposed controls in Calais and along the Channel Tunnel Rail Link; and at the Port of Dover with Kent Police and Port of Dover Police.
Since 1995, customs have replaced the border police in carrying out immigration control at smaller border checkpoints, in particular at maritime ports and regional airports.