Aviation Police Director lays down office after Heisa around relaxed border controls
Simon de Block can no longer perform his position as director of the aviation police « in a suitable and serene way ». He will therefore put down his office. The federal police report this to our editors.
« After an internal debriefing with the hierarchy, the joint conclusion is that the director of the Aviation Police can no longer perform his position in a suitable and serene way. He will therefore put his office down, » the federal police told our editors.
De Block had fallen under fire after he had given the message internally to all officers who check passengers at Brussels Airport last week to call in Article 9 in very long queues. In concrete terms, he ordered to relax the border controls in certain cases. For example, by no longer scanning passports, but only doing a visual check whether the passenger in front of the officer’s nose is indeed the person on the passport.
The federal police actually came up with a formal denial that such an order was once given internally, although Het Nieuwsblad – which released the news – could demonstrate proof of this black and white. On Sunday evening the federal police returned to her steps and then confirmed the existence of such an internal message.
An investigation was set up to find out why the block – without mentioning his name – gave that order. « In the short term, a replacement will be indicated so that the management of the service can be transferred in full cooperation with the farewell director, » it still sounds.
