Police

Kazerne Dossin, Unia and the Integrated Police Force have jointly developed a unique training day specifically for the police force. The ‘Holocaust, Police and Human Rights’ (HPM) course combines historical knowledge with reflection on dilemmas encountered in contemporary professional practice.

Content

Police officers regularly face ethical dilemmas during their day to day operations. Their
predecessors also faced similar choices in the past. One example of this is the way in which,
during the Nazi occupation, Belgian police officers were deployed to carry out often violent
round-ups of Jews. Archival documents and research show that many of the strategies used
at the time to circumvent ethical dilemmas are still very recognisable today. But they also
show that there is scope for action. An understanding of the historical case of collective
violence is enlightening for police training. Anyone who understands how a group can
descend into violence is better equipped to deal with it and resist it.

Objectives

Participants

• gain an insight into phenomena such as discrimination, exclusion, the power of the
  crowd or group, the scope for individual action, within the context of group
  aggression, etc.;
• become aware that, when faced with a mass of people taking action, there is always
  scope to say ‘no;
• learn to analyse information, events and behaviour independently and critically, and
  to act professionally in accordance with their own insights.

Programme

The HPM training day consists of two complementary parts:

• Historical reflection. During the morning, participants will take part in a guided tour
  of the museum. The tour has been designed specifically for police officers, with a
  focus on the role of the authorities and the police in the 1930s and during the
  occupation.
• Human rights, ethical dilemmas and practice. These historical insights are applied
  to the modern workplace during an interactive workshop held in the afternoon.
  Participants discover what human rights mean within a policing context. The concept,
  history and role of the police are examined. Terry Cooper’s model provides guidance
  on how to reach ethical decisions.

For whom and by whom?

This training course is organised for all members of the Integrated Police Force, including
both operational staff and CALog management, regardless of rank or level. It is the result of
an ongoing collaboration between the Integrated Police Force, Unia and Kazerne Dossin.

The training programme is led by a team of trainers who are completely familiar with the
police context. They speak the language of the workplace and have received intensive
training from Kazerne Dossin in the history of the Holocaust and human rights, guiding skills
and dilemma-based training.

Find out more about the HPM project

In 2019 Lead@pol published an extensive article about the HPM project and how to deal
with ethical dilemmas.

Since its launch, the HPM programme has been subject to intensive evaluation. In addition
to ongoing quality control, it was decided in 2016 to carry out a more comprehensive
investigation. The survey examined satisfaction with, the impact of, and many other aspects
of the HPM programme. This special impact study was carried out by Bram Spruyt and Filip
Van Droogenbroeck, professors of sociology (VUB). Click here for the results.

Praktical information

• Target audience: Members of the Integrated Police Force, including operational,
  administrative and logistical staff
• Language: Dutch, French
• Duration: 1 day (08.30 – 16.30 hrs)
• Number of participants: Maximum 18 participants per group
• Enrolment: via the accredited provincial police colleges or the National Police College

Contact

Juul Vercammen
015/288 627
Juul.vercammen@kazernedossin.eu

Isabelle Diependaele
015/288 635
Isabelle.diependaele@kazernedossin.eu