Ghent police are being assisted by 2 Portuguese officers in a bid to catch pickpockets during the Ghent Festival this summer. The exchange is part of a European cooperation project. Dutch officers have been supporting Ghentian lads in blue at the festival for years.
Uniformed Dutch police officers have been seen at the Ghent Festival for many years. They come to support Ghent police and speak to the many Dutch visitors when necessary. They can also identify suspects, carry out checks and – in a worst-case scenario - arrest compatriots.
This year, the international exchange goes one step further. Several Portuguese officers will also be deployed to help reduce the number of pickpockets. They will be out and about at night in plain clothes together with colleagues from Ghent.
The mixed patrols, with Dutch and Portuguese officers, are possible thanks to European treaties. Earlier Ghent police officers went on an international exchange. Officers exchange experiences and share information on how criminal gangs operate.