Police unhappy with revised rules on car pursuits after death of Fabian

Police unions have said that they are unhappy with proposed new rules following the death of 11-year-old Fabian following a police chase through a Brussels park, during which officers struck and killed the child with their vehicle.

Interior minister Bernard Quintin (MR) said the new guidelines aimed to better regulate police pursuits but the police unions said the rules were "tying the police’s hands".

According to the VSOA union, the new directive offers no additional legal protection for officers on the ground, but instead places the full responsibility for pursuits squarely on their shoulders.

The unions also call it “completely inappropriate” that Fabian’s case “is being used or abused to issue new guidelines”.

The Quintin cabinet confirmed that this case is the specific reason for reviewing the rules on pursuits.

“This creates the impression among citizens that action is being taken,” said the police union.

“But in practice, responsibility is once again being placed on the front line, without the necessary support being provided.

"In this way, from an ivory tower, they’re only creating uncertainty and paralysing the police."

Police unions said justice minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) had refused to co-sign the circular regarding the new rules, which they said “speaks volumes”.

VSOA Police is calling for the rules on priority driving and pursuits to be enshrined in law “to provide adequate legal protection for police officers in the field”.

“As long as that protection is not in place, we can only advise our colleagues to think twice before driving with priority or taking drastic measures,” unions say.

“The current circular offers no protection, but actually increases the risk of prosecution, with all the consequences that entails, both professionally and privately.”

Minister Quintin’s office told Bruzz that it was working on an update to the rules governing police pursuits and that “the circular has not yet been finalised”.

“Following Fabian’s tragic death, we have launched a process to review the guidelines on pursuits,” a statement from the office reads.

“Every tragedy is one too many. It is our shared responsibility - of the political authorities, the police hierarchy and the trade unions - to do everything in our power to prevent such tragedies from happening again.”

The government indicated that car chases remained an essential part of police work, but that they must be conducted with “due regard for the safety of all road users”.

“The circular will clarify the existing rules and amend them where necessary,” a spokesperson for the minister said.

“Additionally, there’s a clear need for enhanced training for police officers, both at the start of their careers and throughout their service.

"That’s why we are focusing on expanding existing training programmes and developing new ones."