Monitoring lethal force: Examining the collection and quality of available data
Because the public police in our country still have the monopoly on the use of force, supervision of the use of this force is an important subject in our democracy. Dramas such as the deaths of Jonathan Jacob and Jozef Chovanec make it clear that the supervision of the use of force by police officers in the field is not a luxury and deserves constant attention.
This contribution offers an overview of the collection and quality of available data on police lethal force in Belgium. In addition, the research findings within the Belgian context are assessed within an international framework.
Our analysis shows that (1) the data collection via the supervisory bodies is incomplete due to the lack of standardisation; (2) questions can be asked about the limited objectivity of the reporting modalities and (3) there is a clear lack of quantitative data about the use of force by police officers resulting in death. More accurate figures can lead to better justification by the police on the use of force resulting in death. Therefore, we argue in this contribution for the need of a systematic follow-up in the form of a monitor in this field. It can provide added value for policy makers and police officers alike.