We present in this paper the general real- and redshift-space clustering
properties of galaxies as measured in the first data release of the VIPERS
survey. VIPERS is a large redshift survey designed to probe the distant
Universe and its large-scale structure at 0.5 < z < 1.2. We describe in this
analysis the global properties of the sample and discuss the survey
completeness and associated corrections. This sample allows us to measure the
galaxy clustering with an unprecedented accuracy at these redshifts. From the
redshift-space distortions observed in the galaxy clustering pattern we provide
a first measurement of the growth rate of structure at z = 0.8: f\sigma_8 =
0.47 +/- 0.08. This is completely consistent with the predictions of standard
cosmological models based on Einstein gravity, although this measurement alone
does not discriminate between different gravity models.Comment: 19 pages, 19 figures, accepted for publication in A&