SAPL – a renown French manufacturer of law enforcement equipment, less-lethal solutions and riot gear, part of the Chiappa Firearms group since November 2024 – has been awarded a €1.5 million, four-year contract by the French Ministry of Justice to supply anti-riot shields for use in correctional facilities.

The programme centres on a shield configuration adapted to confined environments, where maneuverability, control and reliable protection are critical.

In detention facilities and correctional facilities, interventions often take place in narrow corridors, tight cells and spaces that offer limited room to reposition equipment. Personnel may need to enter a cell and face an aggressive or potentially aggressive individual while maintaining protection and control at close range. To address these conditions, the selected shield configuration incorporates two additional grip handles: one in the upper section and one in the lower section.

These extra points of support allow the shield to be held and controlled from different positions, improving maneuverability in restricted spaces while helping preserve its protective strength and supporting the operator throughout the intervention.

Emilie Lefebvre, CEO of Société d’Application des Procédés Lefebvre (SAPL), says:

This award reflects the strength of specialist expertise developed and maintained in France, our objective is to provide ministries and correctional personnel with equipment that responds to the realities of their work, from the design stage through to operational use. That practical focus is at the heart of SAPL’s approach.