Belgium’s justice digitisation falters with flawed new case system

Belgium’s justice system is facing serious problems with a new digital case management system, just weeks after the government pulled the plug on a costly police IT project.

JustCase, launched in November to modernise the justice system, is already causing major disruption, Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws reports. Police are sometimes unaware that suspects are flagged, victims are not told when restraining orders are issued, and case files and reports are going missing.

Senior judges and prosecutors have warned that the failures carry real risks. Simon Cardon de Lichtbuer, head of the Dutch-speaking court of first instance in Brussels, said there is a genuine fear of dangerous mistakes. “Someone could be released by error because a file is incomplete. It’s not a question of if, but when”, he said.

”Someone could be released by error because a file is incomplete”

The college of prosecutors-general has also criticised the system, saying it creates “major risks” and makes it harder to monitor offenders who are released. Staff are having to work longer hours to keep the system running.

Justice minister Annelies Verlinden’s office says user concerns are being taken seriously. The justice department admits the €40 million system does not yet work smoothly and needs adjustments.

The problems echo last month’s decision by the Interior minister to cancel the €299 million i-Police digitisation project after years of delays and no fully delivered results. 

^{© Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP}