How French police deal with UK drivers

French police claim that foreign drivers traditionally make up a large proportion of the motorists who break the speed limit on their roads - because they have known there is little chance of being fined.

But under new EU legislation that has come into force this year, member countries can now exchange motoring offence data across borders. So if a Spanish motorist is caught by a speed camera in France, the fine can now be sent to the driver in Spain and he or she will have to pay.

However, the United Kingdom is among the countries which have opted not to share that information - and that means the only way British motorists can be sanctioned on French roads is if they are "caught in the act" by the police and made to pay on-the-spot fines.

Chris Bockman spent the day with members of a 32-strong special division of the French police or gendarmerie based just outside Toulouse.