Brussels citizens feel the highest sense of insecurity in the country Belgium’s interior minister, Bernard Quintin, said on Friday.
That sense of insecurity on the streets of the capital “continues to grow” he said during a presentation of The Security Monitor survey, involving nearly 150,000 participants.
Almost 10% of Belgian citizens often or always feel unsafe, with the figure rising to 19% in Brussels compared to 13% in Wallonia and 7% in Flanders.
The previous 2021 Security Monitor recorded a rate of 16% in Brussels, therefore while “this is nothing new, it’s worrying that this feeling of insecurity keeps growing”.
He noted that in some Brussels neighbourhoods, issues like drug-related disturbances, street intimidation, vehicle vandalism, and illegal dumping are prevalent, necessitating a structural response.
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“For me, it’s clear: the fragmentation into six police zones in Brussels is no longer tenable,” the Interior Minister added. “We need an integrated approach: one policy, one vision, one strategy, effective both politically and on the ground.”
The MR minister intends to advance “very quickly” with the project to merge Brussels’ police zones.
A unified police zone is expected to enhance intervention capacity and the number of community police officers.
He also advocated for a regional security plan, developed by the public prosecutor’s office, the federal police, and local police zones. “The situation in the capital is complex. It demands cooperation, clarity, and determination. Only together can we succeed,” he said.
The minister also called for greater attention to cleanliness.
“Visible decay, such as broken windows, illegal dumping, and vacant buildings, contributes to the feeling of insecurity and minor crime,” he remarked. “Investing in cleanliness, infrastructure, and maintenance also bolsters the sense of security.”
