The Federal Police

Competences officers of the Federal Police | Interest in the special units
A home for retired horses | Purchase of horses by the Federal Police
Purchasing old vehicles from the Federal Police | Availability of buildings of the Federal Police

Competences of the officers of the Federal Police

The Federal Police is a federal police force. Hence, officers of the Federal Police are competent all over the Belgian territory.

Interest in the special units of the Federal Police

An extensive file on the special units of the Federal Police can be read on our website. Before entering the special units, it is compulsory to pass the general course for police officers. After that, you can apply for a function at this direction if there is a vacancy. After getting through the (medical, psychological, etc.) selections, you take a first six months’ course. Subsequently, you get a professional training in the unit and you will be given the chance to choose between the intervention team or the observation team. For more information on our courses, visit www.jobpol.be.

A home for retired horses

Up to 1991 the former gendarmerie sent retired horses (‘reformed’ horses in official terms) to the abattoir. Following a storm of protest by the animal rights organization ‘Animaux en Péril’, the gendarmerie developed a new solution for these retired horses. Since 1991 the animals that cannot longer do their service at the cavalry of the Federal Police are reformed. This means that a place for these ‘retired horses’ is searched for on the land of cavalryman of the Federal Police, at hippotherapy centres, at an animal organization that can take care of these horses or on the land of private persons who are prepared to treat them with care.
These reformed animals remain the property of the Federal Police, which make heavy demands as to the field and the stable for the benefit of the horse’s welfare. For this very reason, it is remarkable to see the number of private persons meeting the requested efforts and offering the reformed horses a nice rest.
In principle, everyone has the right to file a demand to look after a reformed horse, but there are a number of conditions to fulfil. First, you have to bear in mind that reformed horses are really retired animals. The most frequently observed causes for declaring a horse unfit are: chronic limping, arthritis, age, pulmonary troubles and general signs of old age. Conditions: 1.2 acres (half a hectare) of field for each horse (whenever there are other horses in the field). A solid fence, NO barbed wire, an electric fence is desirable. Field and shelter in the immediate surroundings of the place of residence. A shelter in the field. A stable of a least 96.84 sq ft (9 m²), 8.2 ft (2.5 m) in height, well ventilated and lightened. Water supply in the field. An automic drinking trough in the stable. A stone, metal (preferably) or hard plastic manger. A guaranteed acces to the field (preferably the property of person taking care of the horse). Guaranteed good care.
Certain horses are still capable of doing very light work.   If, in addition, they turn out to be very kind and patient, preference will be given to a retirement at a hippotherapy centre.
For more information on adopting a horse of the Federal Police, you can contact the Commission for Purchasing and Reforming Horses of the Federal Police. Commission for Purchasing and Reforming Horses of the Federal Police Ruiterijlaan 2 1040 Brussels Telephone number: 02 642 72 27 e-mail: dga.dar.carc@police.be

Purchase of horses by the Federal Police

When the Federal Police intend to purchase horses, a punctual notice is added on the website www.federalepolice.be.

Purchase of old vehicles from the Federal Police

The Patrimonial Services display moveable property (cars, computers, desks, etc.) for sale belonging to the private property of the public authorities and which are out of use. We advise you to visit the website of the Patrimonial Services on: http://www.servicespatrimoniaux.be/interfpatrnl/default.htm

Availability of the buildings of the Federal Police

We are looking for premises for the temporary accommodation of our association. Is it possible to rent public buildings (e.g. buildings belonging to the Federal Police or the Civil Protection)? The Federal Police are not the owner of the buildings they occupy. It is the state that owns these buildings, the Buildings Agency to be more precise. We would ask you to visit the website www.buildingsagency.be for more information.