Paris on Monday sent a 1800-strong "incivility brigade" into the streets of the French capital to enforce fines for uncouth behaviour and the blight of rubbish, cigarette butts and dog mess.

Paris already had a certain number of city officers who can dish out fines for such “incivilities” but has now massively increased their firepower and under the banner of the "prevention, security and protection" division, DPSP.

The new officers will all be in uniform and most will be armed with batons and tear gas. The brigade will include 320 mobile officers who will roam the whole capital around the clock seven days a week.

Parisians and tourists in the French capital alike now run the very real risk of being fined €68 for dropping their spent cigarette ends or litter on the floor or urinating in the street.

These agents also have the power to fine those who set up illicit stalls in the street, or cafes that extend their terraces without authorisation, let their dogs defecate without clearing up the mess, or make too much noise.

Colombe Brossel, Paris' deputy mayor in charge of security, said: "The aim of this reform is to boost the visible presence of agents on the ground."