Vigipirate (french: Plan Vigipirate) is
France's national
security alert system. Created in 1978 through interministerial sessions and falling within the responsibilities of the prime minister, it has since been updated three times: in 1995 (following a
terror bombing campaign), 2000 and 2004.
Details
Until 2014 the system defined four levels of threats represented by five colors: white, yellow, orange, red, scarlet. The levels called for specific security measures, including increased police or police/military mixed patrols in subways, train stations and other vulnerable locations.
In February 2014 the levels were simplified to 'vigilance' (or surveillance) and 'attack alert'. In December 2016, they were reorganized in three levels: 'vigilance', 'heightened security/risk of attack' and 'attack emergency'.
The name "Vigipirate" is an acronym of french: vigilance et protection des installations contre les risques d'attentats terroristes à l'explosif ("surveillance and protection of facilities against the risk of terrorist bombing attacks")
Levels of alert (to 2014)
Levels of alert (2014-2016)
Levels of alert (from 2016)
History of alert levels
See also
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States of emergency in France
States of emergency in France (french: état d'urgence) are dispositions to grant special powers to the executive branch in case of exceptional circumstances. A state of emergency was declared following the November 2015 Paris attacks, which exp ...
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Opération Sentinelle
Opération Sentinelle is a French military operation with 10,000 soldiers and 4,700 police and gendarmes deployed since the aftermath of the January 2015 Île-de-France attacks, with the objective of protecting the deemed sensitive "points" of th ...
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UK Threat Levels
The United Kingdom Terror Threat Levels, often referred to as UK Threat Levels, are the alert states that have been in use since 1 August 2006 by the British government to warn of forms of terrorist activity. In September 2010 the threat level ...
, used in the United Kingdom from 2006
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BIKINI state
The Bikini state was an alert state indicator previously used by the UK Ministry of Defence to warn of non-specific forms of threat, including civil disorder, terrorism or war. Signs giving the current alert state were displayed at the entrance ...
, previously used in the United Kingdom
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Homeland Security Advisory System (United States)
References
{{reflist
Law enforcement in France
Alert measurement systems
Emergency management in France
1978 introductions
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing