“In Liège, federal police are housed in aging, sometimes modular buildings, containing asbestos or threatened with ruin”indignant the socialist, pointing in particular the site of the federal police of Vottem (Herstal). “The reception and work infrastructure is undersized for the teams in place. It is impossible to correctly follow the compulsory training, for lack of installations available such as shooting stands”he deplores. “A masterplan exists and is supposed to respond to these challenges, but it has been stopped since 2018, while it should be finalized by 2028. Today, the deadlines announced with 2035.”
Asked, the Minister of the Interior Bernard Quintin (MR) declares that “For the Vottem site, reports have existed since the 1950s”. A situation “Extremely arresting”according to the liberal. The latter recalls that he is not “Minister that for five months” and that he has “The intention to work hard on this problem”. The Minister can only ensure “That current conditions can be improved pending the realization of the Masterplan”. He adds having “Regular contacts with the Minister in charge of the Régie des Bâtiments, Vanessa Matz, in order to insist on absolute priorities “.
Concerning the problem linked to the shooting stand, “There are indeed difficulties“, Acknowledges the Minister of the Interior. The recently renovated stand in Hasselt, not too far from Liège, is thus accessible to the Liège services according to the available beaches. “There are also the temporary alternatives implemented with the defense, police, inter -municipal areas and if necessary private infrastructure.” Moreover, “The modular premises welcoming training bodies are limited, but some were closed because they did not guarantee suitable working conditions”. Regarding the presence of asbestos, studies have been made to ensure any lack of risk. “It is also for this reason that certain locals have been closed.”
And the Minister to specify that he is asking his services and the police to follow up closely the follow -up of these files by the Régie des Bâtiments.