Direction centrale des renseignements généraux

The Direction Centrale des Renseignements Généraux (Central Directorate of General Intelligence), often called Renseignements Généraux (RG), was the intelligence service of the French police, answerable to the Direction Générale de la Police Nationale (DGPN), and, ultimately, the Ministry of the Interior. It was also in charge of the monitoring of gambling places and horse racing ranges.

On July 1, 2008, it was merged with the Direction de la surveillance du territoire into the new Direction centrale du renseignement intérieur.

The RG was subdivided into four sub-directorates:

The RG employed 3 850 public servants of the Police. They were not covered by the defence classification (of their name, for instance), though some of them had access to have security clearance (some of the files are classified information).

Members of the RG did not have a judiciary police qualification as long as they worked for this service, except for those of the "Games and casinos" sub-directorate.

The last chief of the RG was Joël Bouchité.

The Sub-directorate of Research is in charge of intelligence, prevention and repression of terrorist acts, particularly by monitoring groups and organisations likely to be linked to such activities.

The Sub-directorate of Analysis, prospective and society facts is in charge of analysing and syntesing data collected from social, financial or other institutions.

The Sub-directorate of Resources and methods is in charge of recruitement, logistics, documentation and juridical matters, as well as of budget and staff training.

The Sub-directorate of Gaming and casinos monitors these places together with horse racing, and also has judiciary and police powers there.

Although police intelligence services appeared in the Ancien Régime, the term "Renseignements Généraux" dates back to 1907, with the creation by the Director of the General Security, Célestin Hennion, of an intelligence department parallel to the judiciary services.

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