Those at the sharp end of law enforcement are known for their dark humour, and police patrolling the streets of Paris during France’s mass anti-government demonstrations are no exception. “Our job is to chase and catch, and that does not make us very popular,” one tells me, tapping his telescopic baton on a prominent sticker on his reinforced plastic shield. It displays large white letters on a red background: ACAB, standing for “All Cops Are Bastards”.