The Saint-Josse city council has decided to devote an additional budget of €1.5 million to improving security in the municipality, located northeast of Brussels, Mayor Emir Kir announced on Monday.
The earmarked sum will make it possible to ensure a permanent on-site police presence in the Quartier Nord for the safety of residents, Kir said in a statement. He said this police presence would be effective in points identified as sensitive.
“We are taking up our responsibilities at the municipal level as we have always done for the Quartier Nord pending the reinforcement of measures at regional and federal level,” the mayor stated.
“An exceptional situation calls for exceptional measures: a 24/7 police presence in the Quartier Nord and a municipal budget of €1.5 million for the safety of residents. This is part of the response at our level,” he added.
Mr. Kir pointed out that the local authority had also increased the presence of law enforcers in the evenings, with the aim of eventually keeping watch until 2.00 a.m.
The city further decided to modify the direction of traffic in order to limit transit traffic conducive to crime, systematically remove badly parked scooters and clean the neighbourhood with water.
Saint-Josse is also working on administrative policing responses for a calmer neighbourhood, while continuing to monitor structural projects such as the redevelopment of the first section of the Rue de Brabant, he added.
