Mayors and Police Chief Urge Interior Minister for Immediate Action as Safety Deteriorates
In a concerted effort to address escalating safety concerns in the Brussels Midi zone, mayors from three districts have joined forces to petition Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden for additional police support.
The plea, endorsed by Jurgen De Landsheer, the police chief of the zone, as well as mayors Jean Spinette of Saint-Gilles, Fabrice Cumps of Anderlecht, and Mariam El Hamidine of Forest, underscores the pressing need for intervention as half of the identified “hotspots” in the regional drug plan are concentrated within their territories.
Recent weeks have witnessed a marked deterioration in safety conditions across the districts, prompting local officials to implement unprecedented administrative police measures.
Collaborating with all relevant security stakeholders and intensifying on-the-ground visibility, the mayors stress the urgency of these actions.
They point to promising results from measures initially piloted in Peterbos, Anderlecht, in conjunction with the Brussels public prosecutor’s office and federal judicial police.
The officials assert that sustained and expanded efforts are essential to quell unrest in their respective municipalities. They advocate for the reallocation of the majority of the zone’s police force to these critical areas, citing it as pivotal to restoring tranquility.
However, skepticism looms among organizations operating in the affected communities. Christophe Collin, director of Dune, a non-profit organization assisting drug users in Porte de Hal, voiced concerns regarding the effectiveness of the proposed measures.
Collin expressed apprehension that the initiatives could lead to “racial profiling,” exacerbating social disparities and lacking adequate support systems for affected communities.
Collin emphasized that while the plan aims to address visible nuisances stemming from drug trafficking, it falls short in targeting the root cause of the issue—the trafficking itself.
He warned against inadvertently marginalizing communities and urged for a comprehensive approach that addresses both the symptoms and underlying factors driving illicit activities.
The call for increased police presence comes amidst demands to relieve local officers from non-essential duties, such as providing security for events like concerts at Forest Nationale and football matches at Union Saint-Gilloise and Anderlecht, as well as managing security for European summits and addressing prison strikes.
Minister Verlinden faces mounting pressure to heed the plea for additional resources and support, with the safety and well-being of residents hanging in the balance.
As discussions ensue on the best course of action, the imperative remains clear—to swiftly implement measures that not only mitigate immediate threats but also foster long-term solutions to ensure the security and prosperity of the Brussels Midi zone.
This article was created using automation and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
