National Police: 2,737 peacekeeper positions for 2026

The Ministry of the Interior has set the number of positions offered for the national police peace officer (gardien de la paix) competitive exams for the second session of 2026 at 2,737. This decision is established by the decree of September 4, 2026 (NOR INTC2622710A), published in the Official Journal of the French Republic No. 0209 on September 8, 2026.

The text follows the decree of April 21, 2026, which had opened these competitions. It now specifies the exact recruitment volume, divided between external and internal competitions, as well as the positions reserved for beneficiaries of the military invalidity pensions and war victims code.

A distribution between external and internal competitions

Out of the 2,737 positions, 1,300 are offered for external competitions and 1,300 for internal competitions. The detailed breakdown is as follows:

National external competition with national assignment: 910 positions;
National external competition with regional assignment (Île-de-France): 390 positions;
First national internal competition with national assignment: 182 positions;
First national internal competition with regional assignment (Île-de-France): 78 positions;
Second national internal competition with national assignment: 728 positions;
Second national internal competition with regional assignment (Île-de-France): 312 positions.

Positions reserved for beneficiaries of the military pensions code

Additionally, 137 positions are offered to beneficiaries of the military invalidity pensions and war victims code. In the absence of a qualified candidate registered on the aptitude list established by the Minister in charge of Defense, the vacant position can only be filled by satisfying the priorities defined in Article L. 242-7 of the code, according to the procedure in Articles R. 242-17 et seq. If no qualified candidate applies or in the event of a refusal, the unfilled position is added to the positions to be filled during the next recruitment cycle, in accordance with Article R. 242-21.

Flexibility between internal competitions

The decree also provides for management flexibility: positions offered in one of the two internal competitions that have not been filled by the appointment of candidates may be allocated to the other competitions. This mechanism aims to optimize the filling rate of positions within the national police.

A major opportunity for candidates

With nearly 2,700 positions open in a single session, this recruitment represents a significant opportunity for candidates for the role of peace officer, whether they are external applicants or already employed in the civil service. The publication in JORF No. 0209 of September 8, 2026, makes this information legally binding and paves the way for registration procedures and the organization of the tests for the second 2026 session.

Official source: Decree of September 4, 2026, setting the number of positions offered for the national police peace officer competitive examinations for the second session of the year 2026, NOR INTC2622710A, published in the Official Journal of the French Republic No. 0209 of September 8, 2026.