Lecture by Céline Grassegger

The Université des Savoirs Partagés (USP) is a project initiated by the Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France that offers free conferences open to all, hosted by renowned personalities and addressing varied and accessible themes.
USP is also developing a transgenerational training offer, promoting the hybridization of knowledge and offering participants access to the University's resources, activities and cultural events.

Beyond conferences, USP is developing a transgenerational training offer open to all, promoting the hybridization of knowledge and links with social and civic life. Participants can benefit from opening modules, accreditations, as well as access to the University's libraries, documentation centers, sports activities, exhibitions and cultural events.

After the successful lecture by Frédéric Martin, former RAID negotiator, the Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France is continuing its lecture series organized by the Université des Savoirs Partagés (USP). On October 16, 2025 at 6:30 pm, at IMTD, Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France welcomed Céline Grassegger, Commissaire Général and evaluator at CSATE, for a lecture entitled "Le commissaire de police au cœur des enjeux de sécurité".

Currently in charge of evaluation and strategic steering missions within the Police nationale, Céline Grassegger is directly involved in the adaptation of security forces to contemporary challenges, such as public order management, European cooperation and the prevention of emerging threats.

An exemplary career in the service of the French National Police

Madame Grassegger shared her career path, marked by an appointment to the rank of commissioner at just 26, and her transition to assessment missions in 2025. She spoke of her experiences in the French West Indies, and returned to the creation of the École Supérieure de Police, as well as in the development of early innovations in technical and forensic policing such as the creation of the fingerprint identification system.

She recalled the major reforms that have structured the national police force: the reform of 1995, as well as that of 2024, which promote the uniqueness of the police force on French territory.

She also emphasized the fundamental values of the National Police, including the code of ethics given to every police officer, the preparation required for the job and the dignity implicit in the profession.

The commissioner's central role in the police organization

Céline Grassegger presented the structure of the French National Police, described as a pyramidal organization comprising over 100 different professions. The police commissioner is at the center of this organization: he designs and directs operations, supervises teams (forensic police, reservists, cadets...), and ensures compliance with values and rules. He is assisted by police officers and ranks. The national police force also includes administrative, technical and scientific staff, and is enriched by the recruitment of civilian personnel as part of the operational reserve.

She emphasized the role of the police commissioner's proximity to the field, particularly during street demonstrations, to prevent terrorist or malicious acts, and to secure the territory's borders in line with European legislation. She also spoke of the deportation of illegal immigrants.

Commissioner's role on the ground.

The commissioner is versatile, as he or she must be able to manage any type of service, whether central or territorial, whatever the field (public thoroughfare, investigation, intelligence, border police, training, support...), accessible 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, combining human resources management, operational management and institutional representation.

Adapting to contemporary challenges

Madame Grassegger detailed the National Police's adaptation to new digital tools, cybercrime, fake news and the fight against drug trafficking. She stressed the importance of intelligence in the preparation and success of operations, and the contribution of modern tools in providing magistrates with irrefutable evidence.

She also addressed the challenges of anonymizing police officers and mobilizing human resources to deal with emerging threats, in a very present European context.

An evolving institution

The French national police force today numbers 150,000 active members, including 1,901 commissioners as of September 1, 2025, with 32% women. Madame Grassegger recalled that the first female police officer was recruited in 1966, and that the commissaire competitive examination was opened to women in 1974, which has led to a steady progression in female representation within the Police nationale.

She also presented the Police's modern tools, such as the ma sécurité.fr website, which has enabled over 130,000 online complaints to be processed by 2024, as well as the role of the "Police-secours" with its 17 and 112 (for mobiles) call numbers.

This conference provided a better understanding of the complexity and versatility of the role of police commissioner, between strategic steering, proximity to the field, human resources management and adaptation to contemporary issues. It provided a forum for exchange on the responsibilities and challenges associated with this function in a context marked by evolving threats and international cooperation.