Yellow vests: the deployment of police in Hainaut has already cost nearly a million euros

The police have been on the bridge for a week now, following the appearance of rioters who took advantage of the movement of yellow vests.
This represents a workforce of 500 men per 24h, whether it is local or federal police. A total of 5,000 hours of police presence every 24h for the province of Hainaut, where took place the scuffles.

Eight nights of mobilization. In Feluy, where attention and men are still concentrated. In Charleroi, for three nights of riots. 500 men are mobilized every day. That means 5,000 hours of work every turn of the clock, on the ground and in the air, to cope with the emergency.

"We really get the schedule from day to day, we know when we start, we do not know when we finish, explains Philippe Bailly, permanent union representative for the province of Hainaut of the Free Union of the Public Service. "Often, we do 2-3-4 hours more than expected. Since events demand it (…) There is a lot of overtime. When we will do the accounts afterwards, it represents a huge cost! (…) The police are professional and in crisis, they react appropriately. For the first two days, we have colleagues who have worked more than 23 hours, and we even have more than 24 hours of service in a row to ensure the safety of both citizens and property. "

500 men mobilized in 24-hour increments

Estimated cumulative working hours of police forces: from 750,000 to 1 million euros. Not to mention the damage to equipment and vehicles, which are still being evaluated. Damages and wages must be borne by the municipalities and the federal government.

"Criminal actions have a cost to the community"says Tommy Leclercq, governor of the Province of Hainaut. "We needed an air support, that is to say the helicopters of the federal police, day, night, ground support, with 500 men in 24-hour increments"he exclaims. "I remember that we knew Feluy, and we are still there, because the meter continues to run because we must always be vigilant to protect the petrochemical site." Added Charleroi. transhumance of the phenomenon of Feluy in Charleroi Since November 20, actually, the costs of police ground support, added to the additional military ground support: they are altogether 500 men in 24 hour increments ".

The workload is tough for the police

The police zone of Mariemont is the most concerned by the deployment, because Feluy is on its territory. Its 138 police officers almost all intervened during the clashes. Their schedule changes every day. "The minister has signed a derogation to get out of the framework of the organization of working time so as to be able to hold ", says Philippe Bailly. "If we had to strictly respect the working time, impossible to ensure all the missions that are devolved now in relation to the situation, which is quite exceptional"he explains.

Neighboring areas, or more distant like Antwerp, came in reinforcement. For 10 days, in the police zone of Mariemont, local positions are not insured. The end of the year is coming, and the Bob campaign may not be a priority.

This type of crisis situation has not occurred since the strike of 1960, in memory of governor.