In five years, the number of requests from police officers to take on extra work alongside their jobs has almost doubled, according to figures from Minister of the Interior Bernard Quintin (MR) in response to a query from Matti Vandemaele (Groen).
In 2020, there were 321 requests from officers wishing to take on additional jobs alongside their police work. By 2024, this number increased to 639, nearly doubling.
Vandemaele finds this concerning. "Our society needs police officers," he says. "They are crucial for maintaining our safety. Such a vital role deserves a decent salary. The fact that so many officers feel their pay is insufficient should be a wake-up call for the minister."
He also warns that the rise in requests creates organisational issues, which could compromise public safety. "In the past, some operations couldn’t proceed or had to end early because there weren’t enough officers available. This is a direct result of officers juggling multiple jobs, and it’s something we must avoid."
