France to deploy more visible police identification numbers

The French Ministry of the Interior is moving to improve the visibility and enforcement of the RIO (Référentiel des identités et de l’organisation), a mandatory seven-digit identification number for police and gendarmes. Despite being mandatory since 2014 to ensure accountability during protests, the use of these numbers has been inconsistent and visibility has often been poor.

Following orders from the Conseil d’État, the Ministry has committed to distributing larger, more legible identification plates by December 31, 2026. The new designs will increase the surface area by 88% for police and 70% for gendarmes, featuring thicker characters and white text on a black background. The Ministry stated that orders for the new identifiers have been placed and deployment is expected in the coming weeks, though consistent wearing of the IDs by officers remains a challenge.