Brussels Parliament has approved the draft law on the merger of the capital's police zones.
The existing six police zones will be consolidated into a single zone, a merger which will be mandatory, Interior Minister, Bernard Quintin confirms. Quintin plans to issue the first royal decree for its execution by mid-2026.
The new singular Brussels police zone will unify the six current zones into one entity, featuring a unified command structure that will operate under a comprehensive security vision for the capital, jointly defined by the 19 mayors and judicial authorities within the police committee.
This single police zone will be the largest in Belgium Quintin says, comprising 6,500 operational police officers and approximately 1,000 logistical staff.
The police committee will be responsible for determining personnel distribution across Brussels.
The law will include measures to ensure equitable representation between large and small municipalities, as well as minimum standards for local presence and accessibility of police stations, with schedules that cater to community needs.
This reform will be supported by a financial package totalling €55 million over five years, equating to €11 million per year for the establishment of the single zone.
The draft law also allows for voluntary mergers of police zones elsewhere in the country, with incentives available for those that take place before December 2029.
Simultaneously, the minister’s office is working on reforms to the KUL standard, which governs the allocation of police forces among zones.
The reform provides for the abolition of police councils across the country, anticipated to save an estimated €2 million annually, according to a cabinet statement.
