I. – The representative of the State may take any measures relating to the maintenance of public health, safety and tranquillity.
If the maintenance of order is threatened, the representative of the State may substitute himself, by reasoned decree, for the president of the territorial council for the repression of offences against public tranquillity, for the maintenance of public order and for the policing of bathing and nautical activities.
II. – Subject to the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure relating to the exercise of the judicial police mission and the provisions of the General Code of Local Authorities relating to crime prevention, the representative of the State in Saint-Barthélemy leads and coordinates all internal security arrangements.
To this end, without prejudice to the missions of the gendarmerie falling within the scope of national defence, he/she determines the missions other than those relating to the exercise of the judicial police and coordinates the action of the various services and forces available to the State in terms of internal security.
He/she directs the action of the services of the national police and the units of the national gendarmerie in terms of public order and administrative policing. In compliance with military status as far as the national gendarmerie is concerned, the head of the national gendarmerie command and his equivalent for the national police are placed under his authority and report to him on the execution and results of their missions in these matters.