Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt (Open VLD) wants to use AI tools to process official reports and thus save government staff.

With elections later this year, Van Tigchelt floats the idea that he would like to use artificial intelligence in policing. “We want to work on a realistic plan to significantly reduce the state burden. We have more agents per inhabitant in Belgium than the European average. More than in neighboring countries. However, there is still a need for more staff.”

He wants to solve this problem through the intelligent use of technology. He tells Het Nieuwsblad that “the average police officer spends 30 percent of his time at his desk,” writing PVs and other administrative work. That’s almost two days a week.”

The Minister of Justice sees opportunities for the use of body cameras within this framework. He wants to use AI to create the first draft of a report and cut the administrative burden in half. “Then we will immediately have 15 percent more workers on the streets without having to hire an additional officer.”

Van Tigchelt draws inspiration from the terrorist organization OCAD, for which he was once responsible. After cracking Sky ECC phones, he turned to AI to sift through the billion-plus messages. At that time he called in Textgain from Antwerp. “Through the intelligent use of technology, we have completed work in a short period of time that would normally take dozens of investigators for years. This investment has paid off.”