Drug consumption and trafficking rank as the top concerns for Belgian citizens, according to the results of the Security Monitor, presented on Friday in Brussels.
These issues are particularly prominent in major cities, where a third of residents report being affected by such behaviour.
The percentage of citizens experiencing drug-related nuisances in their neighbourhoods rose in 2024 to 20% for consumption and 17% for trafficking, up from 15% and 11% respectively in 2018, according to the Security Monitor.
“The Monitor clearly shows that drug-related crime and violence are pressing concerns for the inhabitants of this country,” Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden remarked during the presentation of the findings.
Minister Verlinden emphasised that combating drug-related crime should remain a priority for both police and the justice system. “We must persist in fighting drug issues on all fronts, engaging with all services,” she said, “from cooperation with countries of origin and transit in South America to tackling local street-level dealers, while also considering public health and prevention aspects.”
The Security Monitor also indicates that road traffic continues to be a major nuisance. Of those surveyed, 61% viewed excessive speed as a problem in their neighbourhood, while 44% complained about aggressive driving behaviour.
The Monitor’s findings, derived from the inputs of 150,000 participants, will inform the development of a new national security plan as well as local security plans.
