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31-474: In 2001, the Belgian police underwent a fundamental structural reform that created this completely new police system. A Belgian parliamentary report into a series of pedophile murders accused the police of negligence, amateurism and incompetence in investigating the cases. The loss of public confidence in the police was so great that the whole population deemed the reform indispensable. The three former police forces,

62-894: A "soft" civilian style uniform in keeping with the image required by the Community Oriented Policing-strategy. 1796: 1,080 Gendarmeries, including 76 officers and 1,002 lower ranks. 1830: 1,201 hommes répartis en 45 officiers + 1 156 gradés et gendarmes; 1866: 2,232 hommes répartis en 51 officiers + 2 181 gradés et gendarmes; 1914: 4,325 hommes répartis en 85 officiers + 4 240 gradés et gendarmes; 1921: 6,830 hommes répartis en 156 officiers + 6 674 gradés et gendarmes; 1960: 12,850 Gendarmes; including 350 officers and 12,500 lower ranks. 1969: 14,050 Gendarmes; including 550 officers + 13,500 lower ranks. 1975: 16,970 Gendarmes, including 870 officers and 16,100 lower ranks. 1986: 17,000 Gendarmes 1989: 15,900 Gendarmes Atlas of Belgium From Misplaced Pages,

93-713: A ceremonial Royal Escort was created as part of the Gendarmerie, wearing the full dress uniform that had distinguished mounted gendarmes prior to 1914. During the Second World War , the Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie was restricted to the role of administrative and legal police force, primarily concerned with road traffic. The majority of the Rijkswachters/Gendarmes refused to collaborate with the German occupiers. It

124-408: A major increase in serious crimes (holdups, drug violations, terrorism, etc.). The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBO – Centraal Bureau voor Opsporingen (Dutch), BCR – Bureau Central des Recherches ) was created, as well as a centralized radio network. Tracker dogs were employed for the first time. During the 1980s, the Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie suffered serious problems. Much of its equipment

155-570: A new police organisation, structured in two departments: the Federal Police and the Local Police. In 2001, the Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie was dissolved. The ranks of the Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie were: During much of its history the Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie wore a distinctive black and red uniform with high-collared tunics, white aiguillettes and wide topped kepis , dating from the nineteenth century (see first photograph above). In simplified form, this

186-541: Is Belgium's national central bureau for the European Police Office ( Europol ), Schengen Information System and International Criminal Police Organization ( Interpol ). Falling under the authority of the General Commissioner's Office, are two operational and one non-operational general directorates: The local police ( Dutch : Lokale Politie ; French : Police Locale ; German : Lokale Polizei )

217-463: Is believed that individual gendarmes assisted the Belgian Resistance. These actions were not tolerated by the occupation authorities and from 1942 onwards the corps was deprived of many of its functions. After the war, the service was reorganized. New units were created, and at the end of 1957, new legislation relating to the fundamental role of the Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie was passed, envisaged in

248-454: Is made up of 185 police forces constituted from the former communal and gendarmerie brigades. 50 police forces cover the territory of one municipality (one-city zone) and 146 cover more than one municipality (multi-city zone). The local police can be compared to municipal police forces. Each local police chief is responsible for the execution of local law enforcement policy and ensures the management, organization and distribution of missions in

279-792: Is used for all officer ranks. When performing public order maintenance operations (e.g. demonstrations and riots), police personnel wear a helmet in situations with increased risk of violence. The helmets are white because that colour is easier to spot by cameras and police helicopters. The helmet is plain white for inspectors (rank equivalent to police officer/constable) who function as section members during public order operations. Chief-inspectors (who function as section chiefs) wear white helmets with one blue stripe running from back to front. Commissioners and chief-commissioners (who function as platoon commanders or even squadron commanders and group commanders) have two blue stripes. Some officers, often belonging to intervention units (patrol units), only wear

310-523: The article wizard to submit a draft for review, or request a new article . Search for " Atlas of Belgium " in existing articles. Look for pages within Misplaced Pages that link to this title . Other reasons this message may be displayed: If a page was recently created here, it may not be visible yet because of a delay in updating the database; wait a few minutes or try the purge function . Titles on Misplaced Pages are case sensitive except for

341-439: The general commissioner's office . This office is responsible for management, strategy and policy of the federal police; ensuring the functioning of the integrated police (by coordinating with local police forces); coordinating and supporting the federal police units; internal and external communication and international cooperation. It is composed of the: The directorate of international police cooperation (CGI) within this office

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372-600: The Constitution of 1830. This law confirmed the functions of the Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie and its independence from the administrative authorities. The Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie was separated from the Belgian Army Territorial Defense Force , and became a fourth department within the military. The Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie was also authorised to create its own training establishments. During the 1960s conditions of service improved considerably. This period also saw

403-612: The Dutch name, rijkswacht , means guard of the realm . In 1795, the Belgian provinces came under French rule. It was at this time that the Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie was created. This military force had been created a short time before in France itself to replace the Marechaussee (mounted corps of marshals) of the former monarchy. The legislation which organised the new gendarmerie service in Belgium

434-470: The basis of the already existing constabulary . The Rijkswachters/Gendarmes operated throughout the country. From its creation, the Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie was formally part of the Belgian Army . The major strikes and tense social conditions of the 1930s brought important changes in the organization of the Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie, in particular through the expansion of the mobile units created in 1913. In 1938

465-426: The existing police forces. The parliamentary commission, which investigated the errors that were made during the search for the missing children, stated that the three police organisations did not work effectively and efficiently together. There were problems with cooperation and vital information was not exchanged. Parliament, both the majority and the opposition, decided to abolish the existing structures, and created

496-909: The 💕 Look for Atlas of Belgium on one of Misplaced Pages's sister projects : [REDACTED] Wiktionary (dictionary) [REDACTED] Wikibooks (textbooks) [REDACTED] Wikiquote (quotations) [REDACTED] Wikisource (library) [REDACTED] Wikiversity (learning resources) [REDACTED] Commons (media) [REDACTED] Wikivoyage (travel guide) [REDACTED] Wikinews (news source) [REDACTED] Wikidata (linked database) [REDACTED] Wikispecies (species directory) Misplaced Pages does not have an article with this exact name. Please search for Atlas of Belgium in Misplaced Pages to check for alternative titles or spellings. You need to log in or create an account and be autoconfirmed to create new articles. Alternatively, you can use

527-416: The left pocket flap of the uniform shirt, fleece, sweater, jacket, coat and/or bulletproof vest. On the right side pocket flap, a similar plate is worn, displaying the officer's name and a separating line with underneath the name of the force and/or unit the officer belongs to. In some cases (mostly commissioned officers) the function is displayed (e.g. "Commissioner-General"). Both plates have stylized lines on

558-405: The local police force. She or he works under the authority of the mayor in one-city zones, or under a police board composed of all the mayors from the different municipalities in a multi-city police zone. Its philosophy envisions a global and integrated approach to security based on maximum visibility focusing police activities on a limited area, which should optimize contact between the police and

589-504: The local police: Community policing, responsiveness, intervention, victim support, local criminal investigation and maintaining public order. The Federal Police does not have a hierarchical relationship with the local police. Instead, there is a functional connection between the two entities. Both the Federal Police and local police are built up hierarchically, with the same ranks. The rank insignia are rectangular plates that are worn on

620-446: The municipal police, the national law enforcement service ( Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie ) and the judicial police (assigned to the offices of the public prosecutors) gave way to an integrated police service structured on two levels. The federal police ( Dutch : Federale Politie ; French : Police Fédérale ; German : Föderale Polizei ) is in charge of both specialized and supralocal law enforcement operations, patrolling and ensuring

651-554: The outer corners depicting the force to which the police operative belongs. The lines are orange/red for the Federal Police; light blue for local police; and silver or gold for personnel of the General Inspection (depending on the rank of the personnel member). The colour of the rank insignia and the officer's name, function/unit/force depends on the cadre the officer belongs to. Silver insignia and letters are used for all auxiliary, base and middle ranks (up to Chief Inspector), gold

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682-427: The police is determined by the police board for multi-city zones or by the town council for one-city zones, which must match the minimal standards set by law. Also a Permanent Commission for the Local Police represents all local police services at national level and provides advice on all problems relating to the local police. To guarantee a minimum service to the population, Belgian law provides six basic functions for

713-433: The population. It aims to restore public confidence in the police force and of improve the objective and subjective feeling of security in communities. Each police force consists of an operational cadre of police and auxiliary police plus civilian personnel for administrative and logistic work. At the moment, approximately 33,000 local police and 900 civilians work in the 188 regional police forces. The numerical strength of

744-469: The rank plate and not the name plate on their uniform whilst on duty. This is to prevent malevolent persons from identifying and subsequently threatening or harassing them as a revenge for being the subject of police operations. This is more common in urban areas than in rural (calmer) areas. Historical: Crime: [REDACTED] Wikimedia Atlas of Belgium Belgian Gendarmerie The Gendarmerie ( French ) or Rijkswacht ( Dutch )

775-406: The safety of the country's highways and is specialized in criminal investigation operations. The force is also tasked with delivering support to the local police forces. The federal police consists of approximately 12,300 personnel members (civilian and operational staff). The federal police is led by a general commissioner, a senior officer who holds the rank of chief superintendent. He or she heads

806-591: The supervision of the Ministry of Defence, were removed. This restructuring occurred after the 'black' 1980s of the Brabant killers , Heysel Stadium disaster , Cellules Communistes Combattantes (CCC), and other criminal and terrorist activity, against which the Gendarmerie was deemed ineffective. At the end of the 1990s, following adverse reports arising from the Dutroux Affair , the Belgian government decided to dissolve

837-592: Was a law dated 17 April 1798, which remained in force until 1957. In 1815, the Belgian provinces became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands , ruled by King William I . The Dutch renamed the Gendarmerie the " Royal Marechaussee " and reorganised the force. In 1830 the Belgian Revolution occurred. After obtaining its independence, the new Belgian state created its own national Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie on

868-462: Was outdated, it was significantly understrength, and there were serious financial issues. It was also the period of fighting communist cells ( CCC ), serious and deadly criminal activities by gangs (like the Brabant killers , a case that was never solved) and hooliganism ( Heysel Stadium disaster ). Several parliamentary commissions blamed the Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie for poor investigations and law enforcement work in these cases. The Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie

899-409: Was retained as full dress wear until the late 1960s. It was thereafter replaced by a more modern uniform comprising a dark blue peaked cap with red piping, dark blue coat with open collar and red Gendarmerie insignia, a light blue shirt with tie, dark blue trousers with red piping (a single stripe on the side of the leg) and the distinctive shoulder rank insignia. All modern Belgian police officers wear

930-455: Was the former national Gendarmerie force of the Kingdom of Belgium . It became a civilian police organisation in 1992, a status it retained until 1 January 2001, when it was, together with the other existing police forces in Belgium, abolished and replaced by the Federal Police and the Local Police. The word gendarme comes from Old French gens d'armes , meaning men-at-arms , whereas

961-408: Was threatened with disbandment, and drastic measures were taken to reorganise several units and to improve public relations. On 1 January 1992, the Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie lost its formal military status, resulting in major changes in policies, procedures, and staff regulation. Demilitarisation allowed the force to concentrate all its resources on civilian police work. Its military functions, as well as

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#26973