The mayor of Antwerp and leader of the Flemish rightwing N-VA party Bart De Wever wants the vagrancy law to be reintroduced – in a modern version – to tackle the "nuisance caused by homeless people."
The vagrancy law prohibiting begging and living on the streets was abolished in Belgium about 30 years ago. During the municipal committee in Antwerp on Monday evening, De Wever spoke out in favour of reintroducing it.
"There are four easily accessible, city-funded day shelters. There are also three-night shelters, and teams are out to actively invite people to go here," De Wever said. "We have noted that there is a part of that core group that does not want to be helped, and their behaviour has become worse due to increased substance use. We are talking about alcohol and drugs."
Not the Middle Ages
Therefore, he wants to introduce a contemporary version of the abolished federal law on vagrancy. "In my personal opinion, that was a mistake and we need a contemporary version of this law. In the Netherlands, the mayor has administrative power over individuals – limited in time, of course, because we are no longer in the Middle Ages – and in this way, you can force people to seek help."
Antwerp Mayor and Flemish nationalist Bart De Wever. Credit: Belga / Jonas Roosens
A modern variant of this law could significantly help authorities manage people who cause problems and increase their quality of life, De Wever said. "This would also avoid causing costs for law enforcement and emergency services, which continuously have to run after them."
De Wever's proposal follows after a well-known kiosk on the Antwerp Groenplaats square was demolished by the police in late August, as groups of homeless people were reported by locals for causing a nuisance there and in the surrounding area.
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The police stated that it concerns several dozen people, usually homeless and with an alcohol problem, who cause a nuisance on the Groenplaats and refuse all help.
Now, measurements show that there has been less nuisance after the kiosk was removed, but it is still too early to draw any real conclusions, De Wever added.
