French police are set to be deployed to Belgium this summer to help local police deal with anti-social behaviour by French youths.
Officers in the police zone of Damme/Knokke-Heist will receive assistance from their French counterparts this summer, police chief Steve Desmet confirmed to Belga.
He said this is the police's way of trying to address the “perceived sense of insecurity” in Knokke.
For several years now, Knokke's entertainment district has been plagued by anti-social behaviour from Dutch youths – particularly at the start of the summer holidays. Many young people from northern France also flock to the coast when the weather is hot.
In previous years, Dutch police officers have been brought in to provide back-up to the local police force in Knokke.
"On hot days like July 1st, we see a peak in urban youth from Antwerp, Brussels, and Liège, but also from Roubaix, Lille, and Valenciennes," said Desmet. "It's a bit like a déjà vu of the coronavirus period."
According to the police, maintaining a balance between the enjoyment of these young people and Knokke's residents, shopkeepers, and regular visitors is a difficult exercise.
"In terms of objective safety, there's no problem, but we need to find a tool to address that perceived sense of insecurity," said Desmet.
A team of French police officers will be deployed to Knokke during the last week of July and for a week in mid-August, starting on 15th August – Assumption Day.
"It's a test to get to know each other. Hopefully, we can continue to work this way during hot days in the future," Desmet added.
