Belgian Police Student Workers Barred from Writing Reports After Criminal Investigation

Student workers at the Rivierenland police zone in Belgium have been ordered to stop cooperating with the drafting of official police reports, following a criminal investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office into whether they were illegally given access to confidential police databases and camera systems. The police zone, which covers the municipalities of Mechelen, Willebroek, Puurs-Sint-Amands, and Bornem, has now implemented new measures restricting student workers to reception, logistics, and communication tasks only.

Background of the Investigation

The controversy began on June 25, 2026, when the COC (Controleorgaan op de politionele informatie), Belgium’s independent police information watchdog, launched an investigation into the Rivierenland police zone. The probe followed reports that student workers were drafting police reports (processen-verbaal or PVs) for traffic violations and accessing confidential police databases and camera systems — activities that Belgian law strictly reserves for sworn police officers.

Frank Schuermans, chairman of the COC, made the watchdog’s position clear: “Deploying student workers to establish traffic violations is absolutely not allowed.” He added that student workers “may not hear or see personal data of third parties. Drafting or processing a police report is therefore not allowed.”

The COC confirmed that this is the first time an investigation has been launched against a Belgian police zone for such practices.

Prosecutor’s Office Opens Criminal Investigation

On July 1, 2026, the Public Prosecutor’s Office (parket-generaal) opened its own criminal investigation into the matter, coordinated through Comité P, the federal police oversight body. The Antwerp public prosecutor’s office recused itself from the case, citing its daily working relationship with the Rivierenland police zone.

Kristof Aerts of the Antwerp Public Prosecutor’s Office explained the decision: “We have indeed asked the supervisory body Comité P to draw up an initial police report. From now on, the Prosecutor-General’s Office will coordinate the further investigation. We want to maintain sufficient distance because we work with the Rivierenland police zone every day.”

Police Zone Responds with New Measures

Also on July 1, the Rivierenland police zone announced that newly hired student workers starting at the beginning of the summer vacation period would have no involvement whatsoever in drafting police reports and no access to police databases.

“They will not carry out any processing related to police reports,” said spokesperson Dirk Van de Sande. “These students will mainly be deployed in reception services, logistics services, and communication. To be clear: they will not get access to police databases.”

Van de Sande also confirmed that all student workers are pre-screened by the federal police before employment.

Citizen-Led Response: ‘Fix mijn Boete’

The revelations have sparked public outrage in Mechelen. On June 29, IT consultant and local activist Arnaud Coel launched the website ‘Fix mijn Boete’ (Fix My Fine), a petition platform where citizens can report suspicious fines and sign a petition against the alleged illegal practices.

“You need fines for safety and to correct things, but not to fill the city’s coffers,” Coel said. The platform allows residents to identify irregularities in fines they have received and provides guidance on filing complaints. Coel has indicated he may pursue legal action in a later phase, depending on the outcome of the ongoing investigations.

Legal and Oversight Implications

The case raises serious legal questions. Under Belgian law, access to police databases is protected by professional secrecy (beroepsgeheim), and allowing unauthorized personnel to access these systems constitutes a criminal offense. Potential violations include breach of professional secrecy, violation of police information management legislation, and forgery in official documents (valsheid in geschrifte).

If student workers were involved in drafting police reports without proper authority, thousands of traffic fines issued during that period could potentially be challenged in court. The case has already eroded public trust in traffic enforcement in Mechelen, with citizens questioning the legitimacy of fines they have received.

The COC’s confirmation that this is the first investigation of its kind suggests that oversight of student worker deployment in Belgian police zones may have been inadequate. Other police zones across the country may now face increased scrutiny over their use of student workers.

What to Watch For

The Comité P criminal investigation will determine the full scope of the alleged violations. Key questions remain unanswered: How long have student workers been involved in drafting police reports at the Rivierenland zone? How many traffic fines were issued during this period? Will the police leadership face disciplinary consequences? And critically, will citizens who received fines during this period be able to contest them retroactively?

Mayor of Mechelen Bart Somers, who also chairs the Rivierenland police zone, has declined to comment while the investigation is ongoing. The answers to these questions could have far-reaching implications for policing and data privacy across Belgium.