There is a staff shortage of at least 3,000 people within the federal police, or a fifth of staffing capacity. So state the daily newspapers De Standaard and Het Nieuwsblad on Monday. Trade unions are questioning the federal police's undertakings to incorporate additional staff as part of anti-terrorist measures.
Carlo Medo, the President of the police trade union, the SNPS, denounces the fact that there have been no new recruits. Both of the police trade unions, SLFP-Police and SNPS, appear to be highly critical in the face of the lack of staff numbers within the police. This is a consequence of the recruitment policy in recent years, which has always remained under below 1,400 people. A number of these are needed to make up for those leaving. Lastly the number of recruits recently fell to nearly 800 people per year.
According to the Office of the Minister for the Interior, Jan Jambon, it has been suggested that further work is needed to improve the federal police. “This should prove to be the case by taking on 2,500 people,” which should limit under-staffing to around one thousand.
(Source: Belga)
