CGRS establishes a unit dedicated to security and exclusion-related issues

A new Coordination Public Order and Exclusion unit (Coordination Ordre Public et Exclusion (COPE)) operates as a support unit. It serves as an internal and external single contact point for issues related to security and exclusion. The establishment of this unit follows from the Belgian Federal Government Agreement (2025-2029).

The unit has the following key responsibilities:

1. Case identification and follow-up: identifying, tracking, and monitoring security and exclusion cases throughout the procedure.
2. Proactive information collection and exchange: gathering relevant information early in the process (for example, judicial decisions and criminal records) to streamline case handling, as well as sharing information with external partners (such as the police, Public Prosecutor’s Office, intelligence services, reception authorities, etc.) in full compliance with legal frameworks and CGRS mandates.
3. Pre-screening and public order analysis: conducting legal pre-analyses and providing preliminary guidance before cases are assigned to protection officers, and prevention of processing backlogs and bottlenecks.
4. Monitoring and quality assurance: ensuring consistency, high standards, and legal robustness in decisions, and  monitoring compliance with procedural time limits.
5. Operational support for case workers (in collaboration with the Legal Department): providing tailored legal advice on complex cases, as well as developing legal and practical guidelines and tools to support protection officers in handling security and exclusion cases.