[ArikBe]

The banlieues are the suburbs (of Paris). The word has become terminology which is used in international media. It's valid English: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banlieue

The BAC are the "Brigade anti-criminalité", that term is more obscure. Basically a special unit of the police. http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigade_anti-criminalit%C3%A9

[julie1]

In fact, we «banlieusards» from Paris have a tendency to consider ourselves as «THE» banlieue. The most emblematic one. But most big cities have one of their own. Marseilles, Lyon and Lille have theirs.