[gabaix]

The issues are two-fold

1- the territorial split between gendarmerie/police within the French territory

2- the fact the gendarmes for police work report to the Ministry of Defense.

If one had to design the police system from crash, they would likely merge police and gendarmes for police work.

[BrandoElFollito]

You forgot 3: a hatred between the organizations for ego reasons (not everyone, not everywhere).

The split is nonsense today.