Federal Police in Belgium forced to creative measures on paper

Facing lack of personnel, police officers in Belgium are forced to resort to creative measures, including fraud of statistics, in order to meet management demands. 
This is for instance the case when it comes to alcohol test data, where the demands of the government can only be met by questionable practises.

One of the areas where lack of personnel, material and means has become extra noticeable is within the traffic police, which falls under the federal police.
"The budget allocated to the federal police does not correspond to the tasks they have to accomplish", Jan Schonkeren, President of the SLFP Police Union said.
"This is a cry for help by the police officers".

It was at a meeting on February 22nd between police official representatives and police union representatives that the problems in the federal police became evident.

However, the SLFP Police Union has pointed out these problems for a few years already.
"There is pressure from the top to fulfil a certain quota, but there isn't enough staff to do so. Therefore the police is forced to become creative," Jan Schonkeren added.

One of the areas where the police has used its creativity is when it comes to the quota of alcohol tests performed during a certain period of time. 
"It is true that some falsification of statistics has occurred, that is how desperate the traffic police is", Jan Schonkeren said.

According to him there has been too much focus on the local police in Belgium, leaving the federal police with the short end of the stick. 

Other police unions in Belgium, including SNPS, support SLFP in its standpoint as far as lack of personnel goes. According to them about 3000 more police officers would be needed in order for the police to be able to work properly.

Jan Schonkeren stresses the severeness in the situation.
"If nothing happens, we might be forced to take the streets if necessary."