On Monday 1 February 2016, Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Internal Security Étienne Schneider and Secretary of State for Internal Security, Francine Closener, held a meeting with representatives of Syvicol to discuss the proposed territorial reorganisation of the Grand Ducal police.
With the majority of police stations holding less than six officers and certain unfrequented ones receiving one unannounced visitor on average per day, the reorganisation was put forward as a means of optimising the functioning of Police units and increasing the availability of officers on the ground. France instigated the concept of station communities in 2003 and Luxembourg looks set to follow suit.
The proposed reorganisation put forward by an external audit was discussed by a working group and validated by the Director General on the basis of the following criteria: presence on the ground; density of the population; equal service for citizens; existing infrastructure; workload; crime; action reach; and surface area.
The changes would see an 80% increase in service and availability, with 14 operating hours a day and 70 a week, as well as more patrols. According to the Grand Ducal Police, this would enable citizens to benefit from more security, flexibility, availability and presence on the ground, whilst mayors would maintain contact with one point of reference with increased means.
Photo by Police Grand-Ducale
