Nineteen pimps have been arrested in Brussels since January, in the Alhambra and Louise neighbourhoods, the mayor of Brussels’ cabinet said today. The individuals were put before judicial authorities thanks to the intervention of the Indecent Acts section of the Brussels Capitale-Ixelles police department. 23 other people were also arrested for indecency.
“My priority is not only to insure the well-being of our residents and the safety of our neighbourhoods, but also to fight this plague. It amounts to human trafficking. In 2015, this is completely inacceptable. That is why we are strengthing our policy on it”, said the Mayor Yvan Mayeur. These multiple arrests are part of a long-term policy for Brussels, which started in 2013. This policy is itself part of the Integrated communal Counter-Prostitution plan, a press release said.
Street prostitution has plagued the Alhambra neighbourhood for years. This is bad news for residents, who have to deal with the associated problems and mafia practices. In 2013, the Brussels CPAS bought the Tropicana bar, which was a well-known place for prostitution in Alhambra. However, the problems soon moved to other cafés.
At the start of 2014, the Communal Council presented a plan which involved moving prostitution to a limited zone near Chaussée d'Anvers.
(Source: Belga)
