According to Knack, taxpayers spend 11 million euros annually to deploy police at football matches alone. When considering the cost of police deployment for other sporting events and competitions, the pressure put on the police is substantial. Especially since many of these events take place during evenings and weekends when police work is more expensive.
To reduce this financial burden, police have been advocating for a “paid police” program for several years. This would require event organizers to contribute financially to security costs. Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden is in favor of this proposal and wants to open up a discussion on the matter.
Verlinden understands the importance of entrepreneurship in Flanders, which includes festivals and major sporting events. However, she believes that police resources are limited, which is why the concept of paying police needs to be explored. This idea is not new, and a similar proposal was introduced by former Minister of Interior Joëlle Milquet in 2012 but was met with criticism from festival organizers and the Jupiler Pro League.
Taxpayers pay 11 million euros a year for police deployment at football matches, writes Knack. If you add the other sports competitions and events, a lot of pressure is put on the police. Its deployment is costing taxpayers a lot of money, especially since many events take place in the evenings and on weekends and the police have to work expensive overtime.
To lighten the bill, the police have been pleading for years for a “paid police”. The organizers would thus bear part of the security costs. Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden wants to initiate this discussion. “Don’t get me wrong, Flanders lives from entrepreneurship, including festivals and major sporting events. But I also look at what is expected of the police and, for now, the means are limited. C This is why we must dare to think of a paying police (“betaalpolitie”).
This idea is not new. In 2012, the Minister of the Interior at the time Joëlle Milquet (cdH, now Les Engagés) had already launched a proposal to this effect. Festival organizers and the Jupiler Pro League were critical.
In conclusion, the cost of police deployment at sporting events is a burden that falls on taxpayers. With the pressure that comes with not only football matches, but also other sports competitions and events, it’s not surprising that the deployment of police is costing so much money. It’s time to consider alternatives, such as a paid police scheme, to help alleviate this cost. Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden has acknowledged the issue and is open to initiating discussions on this topic. This may not be a new idea, but it’s important to remember that change takes time and effort. It’s up to us to come together and find a solution that benefits everyone involved.
