The main tasks of the shipping police, as described by the federal police, are “policing in ports (around water), policing on water, border control (on and around water) and specialized support with experts and technical means. “
According to the press service of the police, communicating figures arrested last December, “more than 350 people work at the Federal Navigation Police”.
“There remains a shortage of personnel”concedes the management, which seeks to recruit inspectors to join the ranks.
The mayor of Antwerp, Bart De Wever, has repeatedly deplored the lack of staff in the Antwerp section of the navigation police responsible for monitoring the port and involved in particular in the fight against drug trafficking. At the end of January, the police decided to mobilize in Antwerp the reinforcement of atwenty police officers from the Federal Intervention Reserve Unit.