STEPS TAKEN SINCE THE GENERAL CRIME UPSURGE IN 1973 INCLUDE METRO PATROLS BY UNITS OF FOUR TO FIVE POLICE OFFICERS, INSTITUTION OF THE METRO POLICE CONSISTING OF AVAILABLE OFFICERS FROM LOCAL UNITS FOR SURVEILLANCE IN DANGEROUS STATIONS, AND FOUNDATION IN 1976 OF THE CENTRAL METROPOLITAN SECURITY COMPANY (CMSC). THE CMSC CONSISTS OF 124 UNIFORMED OFFICERS, 20 MORE IN CIVILIAN DRESS WITH A CENTRAL STATION AT THE BASTILLE AND CRUCIALLY LOCATED SUBSTATIONS, AND A SPECIAL UNIT TO ATTEND TO HOMELESS PERSONS. COMMUNICATIONS ARE FACILITATED BY TELEPHONE CONTACT, FIXED EQUIPMENT WITHIN STATIONS AND MOBILE FACILITIES FOR PATROLS. FOR SMOOTH FUNCTIONING OF THE FORCE, (1) METRO OFFICERS MUST COLLABORATE WITH THE REGULAR POLICE AND KEEP TRACK OF DELINQUENTS WHO HABITUALLY OPERATE IN THE METRO, (2) EFFORTS OF THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF OF THE MUNICIPAL POLICE AND DISTRICT POLICE CHIEFS MUST BE COORDINATED (3) SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE OF METRO CRIME TYPES MUST BE DEVELOPED, AND (4) OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO PARTICULAR METRO AREAS MUST BE MAINTAINED THERE FROM DAY TO DAY. WHILE THE CMSC FURNISHES PATROLS, ANOTHER SMALL SPECIAL FORCE STANDS GUARD IN THE LARGE STATIONS. THE COMPANY'S INTENSIFIED EFFORTS TO CONTROL CRIME BY VISITING STATIONS, CHECKING TRAINS, AND TALKING TO INDIVIDUALS HAVE UNCOVERED FALSIFIED DOCUMENTS, DRUG VIOLATIONS, FIREARMS VIOLATIONS, ROBBERIES, AND ASSAULT AND BATTERY CASES, AND HAVE REDUCED ARMED ROBBERY BY 26.66 PERCENT FROM 1976 TO 1977, UNARMED ROBBERY BY 26.16 PERCENT FROM 1976 TO 1977, AND EVEN VIOLENT CRIME AFTER 1977. THE FORCE HAS THUS PROVED SUCCESSFUL BOTH IN COORDINATING POLICE EFFORTS TO COMBAT CRIME AND IN ASSISTING METRO USERS IN VARIOUS OTHER WAYS. THREE TABLES ARE SUPPLIED. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)