The Brussels-Midi police zone, operating in Anderlecht, Forest and Saint-Gilles, is receiving help from several officers of the Federal Intervention Reserve (Feres) to tackle drug-related violence in the area. Several Brussels mayors have repeatedly called for this reinforcement.
From this week, ordinary police officers patrolling the streets of Brussels' southern communes have been joined by more than a dozen Feres officers to tackle the growing feeling of insecurity. The police zone has seen a surge in shootings around Aumale in Anderlecht in recent weeks, related to the expanding drug war between gangs. At Place de Bethléem in Saint-Gilles, two community peacekeepers were attacked by drug dealers.
"This measure has come at our request," Brussels-Midi police zone chief Jurgen De Landsheer told Het Nieuwsblad. "After the recent shootings, we want to bring security back to the streets through an increased presence." The additional officers can also carry out extra checks and arrest dealers.
He pointed to the notorious Peterbos district in Anderlecht, where locals have been plagued by the presence of drug gangs, as an example of this method's success. Here, police have for some time increased police presence with their own officers, which has resulted in calm returning to the neighbourhood "to the great satisfaction of the residents."
Unusual presence
The presence of Feres officers is unusual. The Reserve – a specialised unit consisting of trained personnel who can "contribute to the proper management of unexpected events" – normally only intervenes in national disasters or situations of "high emergency". The last time it was called in for "regular police work" was in 2023, when the unit assisted in the fight against drug crime in the port of Antwerp.
But De Landsheer said the means justify the end in light of the situation's seriousness. Several Brussels mayors previously called for federal police to be deployed "to retake the neighbourhoods" most affected by drug gangs' operations.
The pilot project will be evaluated to analyse whether the forces were deployed efficiently, and the hope is this will highlight that having enough officers on the ground makes a difference.
But De Landsheer remains realistic, stating that this measure will not see the drug problem eradicated as demand for drugs continues to persist. "But we can reduce the nuisance and make the streets safer. The situation is not hopeless."
