Internal Security Minister Stresses Police Only Part of Solution

During a press conference on Friday, Luxembourg's Minister of Internal Security, Henri Kox, presented the challenges, projects and priorities of the Grand Ducal Police.

More specifically, Minister Henri Kox referred to the following projects and priorities: the reform of the Grand Ducal Police, multi-year recruitment, digitalisation, infrastructure, personal data and police files, the definition of security zones, drug-related crime and injunctions.

Police reform

The reform of the Grand Ducal Police provides for a territorial reorganisation of police stations and the working conditions of police officers. The operational launch of communities of police stations launched in 2017, under the previous legislature, was continued to favour the presence and reactivity of the police in a reinforced manner and to obtain more extended operating ranges. A new pilot project aims to facilitate work in police stations and free up resources to allow police officers to ensure an even greater presence in the field.

Multi-year recruitment

The police recruitment plan foresees the recruitment of 621 police officers and 240 civilians until 2026. The campaign began in 2019 and was relaunched in 2020 when around 800 candidates applied for posts. 

Digitalisation

Along with the future staff reinforcement, a modernisation of the functioning of the police, in particular through the generalised digitalisation of the various services, is expected to allow work to be simplified in the future.

The four main projects selected are: the establishment of a centralised project management office (PMO) team whose mission is to promote operation in project mode for the entire police force; the SPExpert system, which foresees the introduction of a computer programme for the establishment of service plans for rolling units; a central portal which provides for a single centralised entry in a transversal working environment where internal communication, collaboration and business needs meet; mobile tools whose goal is to equip police officers and investigators with portable devices (Digital eXperience Platform).

Infrastructure

In view of the dilapidated state or otherwise unsuitable nature of several police infrastructures, projects to expand or build new infrastructures are underway. For example, the building previously occupied by the Ferrero company is being renovated in order to provide more suitable premises for the General Directorate of the Grand Ducal Police and to include additional police services such as the judicial police, allowing to bring together different services on one site. In addition, new police stations are under construction. Works on the new Differdange police station will begin in March 2021, whilst the Esch-sur-Alzette police station will initially be the subject of security work. A police academy to better accommodate police candidates is under construction in Kalchesbrück and will be completed this year. Solutions are also being sought in collaboration with the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works to replace the current pound in Esch-sur-Alzette, which no longer meets the required security conditions.

Personal data: police files

The bill on police files, which was presented in January 2021, aims for more transparency, better respect for the rule of law, equality before criminal sanctions, the principle of equity and the principle of centralisation of data. Retention periods will be dependent on the decisions of the judicial authorities.

Safety zones: Visupol project

Bill 7498 regulates the use by the police of CCTV cameras for purposes of prevention, research and observation of infringements. It also aims to determine the purposes of the processing, the image retention periods as well as the procedure to be followed with a view to a ministerial authorisation which allows the use of video surveillance.

Drug-related crime

As drug-related crime has been a significant problem for a long time, a working group, under the aegis and composed of the Ministry of Internal Security along with several other ministries, and the Grand Ducal Police met to have an exchange of views on this subject. Following the work of this group, a document was drawn up and will be presented to the Government Council and debated in the Chamber of Deputies.

Injunctions

The Minister of Internal Security also analysed the possibility of introducing an injunction into the legislative arsenal of the Grand Ducal Police, the main objective of which is to guarantee the safety of people inside buildings, those wishing to enter or leave buildings and those who obstruct or block the entry or exit. The measure is linked to the simple presence of a person in a risk zone, in particular entering or leaving a freely accessible building, which is likely to expose other people and themselves to a possible safety hazard.

Minister Henri Kox recalled that many projects are underway and are being dealt with in a systematic way so that the police are ready as quickly as possible to best tackle the challenges they are facing. That being said, he noted that "the Grand Ducal Police are just a part of the solution".

The Internal Security Minister also recalled that the open and constructive dialogue both within and outside the police is particularly close to his heart. Consultation with all local and national players to bring projects to fruition is particularly essential. The same applies to dialogue with the unions.