Napoleon III manipulates a range of politicized police powers to censor the media and suppress opposition.

Legally he has broad powers but in practice he is limited by legal, customary, and moral deterrents.

By 1851 political police had had a centralized administrative hierarchy and were largely immune from public control.

The Second Empire has continued the system; proposed innovations are stalled by officials.

Typically political roles are part of routine administrative duties.

Although police forces have indeed been strengthened, opponents exaggerate the increase of secret police activity and the imperial police lacks the omnipotence seen in later totalitarian states.