Strike threatens at Judicial Police

According to the FGP, the planned move is detrimental to the investigation into crimes in the Westhoek. They also fear an inefficient operation and believe that they will also be put at a personal cost. Florent Patteeuw, VSOA Police Union: “In Ypres there are 13 staff members who want to move to Kortrijk or Bruges. And in Veurne there are currently 11 employees who have to go to Bruges or Kortrijk.”

In 2015, the criminal investigation department in Veurne and Ypres, together still 60 people strong. They say they work in decent buildings. The plan to close down both the FGP of Ypres and Veurne and bring them together in remote, dilapidated buildings in Bruges and Kortrijk has met with resistance. “That is indeed not good for efficiency. On the one hand, there is the knowledge of the terrain. Also contacts with the police and with the local population. Here we know the people and we will also obtain information much faster than will be the case in the future.”

The Federal Judicial Police carries out investigations into murder, crime and misdemeanors. They will file the strike notice next week. Then negotiations start. There is a good chance that victims will be left out in the cold and that files will be left behind during the strike.

Management response: Centralization is just right

At the directorate of the Federal Judicial Police they do not share the analysis of the police union. They are willing to negotiate with the inspectors of Ypres and Veurne. Local proximity, for example, seems to be less of a priority to the director of police inspectors. Because the FGP is a criminal investigation service that increasingly investigates cross-border crime. (read more below the video)