The Attorney General grants or refuses authorisation by decree to effectively exercise the powers attached to the status of judicial police officer.
The authorisation is valid for the entire period of commitment to the operational reserve, including in the event of a change of posting, and for a maximum of five years from the date of retirement of the reservist gendarme.
When considering refusing authorisation, the public prosecutor will inform the person concerned, specifying that he or she may, within a period of fifteen days, examine his or her file and be heard, if necessary with the assistance of counsel of his or her choice.