5 November 2014ELECTREX 2014

A selective power cut simulation exercise was organised in several local and federal police services. The objective of such exercise was to draw lessons and anticipate the implementation of a future power cut plan, given the real risk of electricity shortage during the winter period. This exercise was coordinated by the Directorate of Administrative Police Operations (DGA/DAO).

The ELECTREX 2014 simulation exercise pursued a threefold objective:

• testing the impact of (partial) power cuts on technical facilities at sites equipped (or not) with emergency generators;
• testing the implementation of BCP (Business Continuity Plans): is it possible to ensure minimum service ?
• testing the operational resistance of services (decision-taking process, communication process, information exchange, etc.) at local level as well as between the central and decentralised levels.

The police services that took part in the exercise were the following: Coordination and Support Directorate/Federal Judicial Police of Walloon Brabant (Nivelles site), Coordination and Support Directorate of East Flanders (Dendermonde site), Federal Judicial Police of Dinant, Railway Police unit of Libramont, Waterway Police unit of Ghent and local police corps of Zottegem/Herzele/Sint-Lievens-Houtem.

In practical terms, the power was cut within these police services in the afternoon, during a defined period of time and under strict conditions.

This exercise made it possible to identify areas for improvement.

Back