Their only weapon is the power of persuasion. The volunteer Guardian Angels, who came to Paris in a short-lived experiment a few years ago, are seen by many as unlawful vigilantes although they claimed to have reduced crime in New York. The Paris agents on the other hand will carry an official warrant jointly issued by the RATP and the Paris police, and will work in close collaboration with the police. They have been given instruction in public liberty, principles of law and psychological training in dealing with problems ranging from drunkenness to graffiti spraying. The RATP said they were also expected to lend a helping hand to people who are lost or in difficulty.
Polls show that a perceived lack of security is foremost among the concerns of passengers.
Metro employees have gone on strike several times in recent months because of attacks against co-workers, and the RATP spends tens of millions of francs cleaning up trains defaced by vandals. The agents are being hired under a government plan to create jobs for young people, under which the government will pay up to 80 percent of their wages. The RATP says it hopes to have 50 agents on duty by the end of June, and 250 within three years. The mission of the young agents, who wear black uniforms, is more specifically targeted at other young people.