Belgium investigates high costs of failed police project
New reporting says the i-Police project cost far more than previously known, but current primary confirmation is lacking.
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The debate over the failed i-Police digitalisation project has flared up again in Belgium. VRT NWS reports that the cost to taxpayers amounts to more than €139 million, but this new estimate has not been independently confirmed.
i-Police was intended to bring together the digital systems of the Belgian federal and local police forces. The project was halted at the end of 2025 after tens of millions of euros had been spent without a fully functioning system being delivered.
Parliamentary documents confirm that the original contract with Sopra Steria had an estimated value of €299 million. It was also previously recorded that approximately €75 million to €77 million had been paid before the contract was terminated.
The new reporting cites a higher total of more than €139 million. This could mean that, alongside direct invoices, costs for consultants, audits, legal proceedings, licences and the police’s internal organisation were also included. Without the underlying report or a current statement from the Belgian government, it is impossible to determine exactly which items are included in the amount.
The Belgian Lower House has previously raised questions about the legality and efficiency of the spending. Investigations and hearings were also announced. The discussion concerns not only the supplier, but also how the police put out to tender, managed and monitored the project.
The matter is relevant to Dutch readers because many public-sector organisations carry out similar digital projects. The case shows that the original contract value is not the same as the final bill to the public. In major IT projects, costs can rise sharply because of changes, oversight, legal disputes and temporary solutions.
It remains unclear whether the Belgian Lower House, the federal police or the Court of Audit can confirm the new figure. It is clear, however, that the project was halted after tens of millions of euros had been spent.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Belgium’s i-Police project has been halted.
- The original contract had an estimated value of €299 million.
- Approximately €75 million to €77 million had been paid before termination.
- The current claim of more than €139 million has not yet been independently confirmed.
Left
Arguments Major public IT projects should be put out to tender and monitored more transparently. If the government places the risks on citizens while suppliers and consultants are paid without a functioning result, stronger public oversight is needed.
Values Public accountability, protection of taxpayers’ money and digital public infrastructure.
Consequences More oversight and in-house expertise in government may make projects more expensive initially, but reduce the risk of long-term dependence on commercial suppliers.
Centre
Arguments The government needs digital expertise, but should carry out projects in stages with clear interim deliverables, independent audits and stop points. Not every failure is fraud; it must nevertheless be clear who made which decision.
Values Good governance, accountability, proportionality and continuity of public services.
Consequences A phased approach may slow innovation, but makes it possible to adjust course earlier and limit losses.
Right
Arguments The state should restrict itself to setting clear requirements and give specialised companies room to build systems. This approach emphasises contract management and accountability, without identifying outsourcing itself as the cause of the failure.
Values Efficiency, responsibility, competition and limiting bureaucracy.
Consequences More market competition may bring speed and innovation, but without a strong client organisation, the risk remains that public bodies lose technical and financial control.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved with corrections · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The text is deliberately cautious about the new figure because primary confirmation is lacking. The established background concerning the contract, the project’s termination and earlier payments is supported by parliamentary and official sources.
- confirmed The i-Police project was intended to bring together the Belgian police’s digital systems. — Description in parliamentary documents. source
- confirmed The project was halted after tens of millions of euros had been spent. — Confirmed by Belga and parliamentary documents. source
- uncertain The taxpayer has lost more than €139 million. — New media claim, not independently confirmed; it is therefore not presented as an established fact. source
1 correction(s) applied
- Was: Belgium has lost more than €139 million on i-Police.Now: VRT NWS reports that the costs amount to more than €139 million, but current primary confirmation of this new estimate is lacking. (The new cost estimate could not be independently verified.)
Editor's note
The new estimate of more than €139 million could not be independently confirmed. Older primary and parliamentary sources do confirm that the project was halted and that approximately €75 million to €77 million had previously been spent.Sources
- Question écrite n° 8-539 — Belgische Senaat
- Belgian federal police scraps multi-million-euro digitisation project — The Bulletin
- Belgium terminates multi-million euro contract for police digitisation project — Belga News Agency
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „belgië i-police”
- FD — „belgië i-police”
- Trouw — „belgië i-police”