The mayor of Brussels City, Philippe Close (PS), proposes to put an end to stabbings and drug-related issues in and around the city's metro and train stations by transferring the more than 260 officers of the Railway Police to Brussels.
The Federal Railway Police in Brussels is currently responsible for safety in 69 metro and train stations in the Captial Region. Now, Close proposed to transfer their command to the Brussels authorities, in an interview with La Derniere Heure.
"The Federal Government has had the opportunity to change something at the Midi Station for more than a year, and it has not succeeded," he said, adding that he "would rather receive criticism for what he manages himself" than have to pass the responsibility on to the Federal Government.
"It is also not clear to the people: the local police are responsible around the station, but the federal officers are responsible inside the station," Close explained.
Resources
Etterbeek mayor Vincent De Wolf (MR) agrees with Close's concerns and previously also raised the issues in the metro stations. "It is clear that these people want to do their job, but they do not have sufficient resources," he told Bruzz.
Earlier this year, the Railway Police in Brussels indicated that between 21 and 36 officers are spread across all the stations during the day – a number that drops in the morning, evening and night hours.
Figures from the Interior Affairs Minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) show that the staffing problem is almost solved. The staffing of the federal Railway Police in Brussels is almost complete, with around 275 employees.
Since the terrorist attack on Swedish supporters last year, 25 additional people have been hired. Additionally, budgets were also released for a new police post at the Midi Station and 28 additional staff members.
Police outside the Brussels Midi station. Credit: Belga/Nicolas Maeterlinck
Close wants to add this entire team to the local police zones. "In the Brussels Central Station, we have few problems thanks to our police presence, but we also want to support the North and Midi Stations," he said.
With this reinforcement, the cooperation between the different police zones could be expanded – which would not cost the community anything and would provide clarity, Close argued. "The local police can be closer to the people, while the federal police focus on major cases such as human trafficking and drug smuggling."
During the Conference of Mayors, Close already proposed to the other mayors to move the management of the stations to the Brussels authorities and to set up a task force consisting of the six police zones and the Brussels public transport operator STIB, among others.
In response to the question of whether the federal police are open to more consultation with local authorities, Verlinden's office said that a platform for consultation already exists. "The federal police coordinate a platform on public transport safety, where local police zones, federal services and transport companies have been working together for a long time."
A month before the elections, the timing of Close's proposal is remarkable – especially as he has not been involved in the debate on safety for some time. "I am always proactive when it comes to safety," he said. "We have problems with drug trafficking in the area, but we are on top of it."
