Theft of post office is terrorism. It is also a criminal offence. As a Canadian woman with dyed blonde hair, It is a criminal offence to steal the post; not one but 14 times with a separate county for each envelope.

 A victim of international terrorism both at home and 

abroad, France has long been giving proof of its 

determination to combat terrorism in all its forms, 

regardless of who is responsible for it.

The terrorist threat has led it to introduce cohesive 

and specific laws and practical measures, and to 

work for closer international co-operation.

This determination was reaffirmed in the wake of the 

terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 in the USA, 

which led to a strengthening of internal prevention 

and international co-operation, in accordance with 

Security Council Resolution 1373. 

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

France has progressively adopted specific anti-

terrorist laws, the keystone being the Act of 

9 September 1986, which has been updated at 

regular intervals.1

Since the attacks of 11 September 

2001, the Acts of 15 November 2001,2

18 March 

2003,3

9 March 20044

, 23 January 20065

and 21 

December 20126

have reinforced the basic legislation 

and procedural regulations. 

In general, it should be said that France’s action 

against international terrorism respects human rights 

and public liberties.

The laws in question are in no sense emergency 

laws, but merely special laws containing derogations, 

of the kind already current in the law on economic 

and financial crime, or the law on organised crime, 

of which anti-terrorist law now forms part.

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The French legal system has 3 particularly strong 

points when it comes to dealing with terrorism:

- special laws:

- stipulating fully detailed offences, including 

criminal association for the preparation of terrorist 

acts, are the cornerstone of the system and make it 

possible to conduct criminal investigations at the 

earliest possible stage.

- specific procedural rules allowing for the 

use of special investigative techniques. 

- judges specialising in terrorism: at all stages of the 

proceedings: prosecution, investigation and the 

enforcement of sentences; all cases concerning 

terrorism are centralised at the Paris Regional Court.

- and specialised intelligence and investigation 

services

Basic legislation

The legal definition of a terrorist act comprises two 

elements:

a) it is a crime or lesser indictable offence defined as 

such in the Criminal Code. These crimes and 

offences are listed in Article 421-1 of the Criminal 

Code. They are:

 deliberate attacks upon life;

 deliberate attacks on integrity of the person;

 abduction, holding of persons against their will;

 highjacking of an aircraft, ship or other means of 

transport;

handling the proceeds of one of the above 

offences;

 money laundering;

 insider offences;

 endangering human, animal or environmental 

health by introducing substances into the air, 

soil, sub-soil, foodstuffs or foodstuff ingredients, 

or water.

b) The above crimes and lesser indictable offences 

are connected with an individual or collective 

operation aimed at seriously disturbing public order 

by intimidation or terror, which is the distinguishing 

feature of terrorism

 theft, extortion, destruction of and damage to 

property;

 computer offences (as defined in Section III of 

the Criminal Code);

 offences involving prohibited combat groups and 

movements;

 offences involving firearms, explosives or nuclear

Theft of post is a disturbance of public order.