The Federal Government is setting up a task force to fight drug-related crime led by Prime Minister Bart De Wever, he announced on Friday afternoon after the Council of Ministers meeting
On Thursday, De Wever had announced that Minister of Interior Bernard Quintin (MR) and Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) would report to the Council of Ministers on Friday on the fight against drug-related violence in Anderlecht.
At the time, he stated that he would support additional measures to curb drug-related violence. He did not think it was necessary to convene a National Security Council.
After the briefing, the Council of Ministers decided to set up a task force "to implement the elements of the coalition agreement on organised crime as quickly as possible," according to the announcement.
Initially, this will be done in coordination with the ministers of the interior and justice. Ministers responsible for other elements of the agreement will join in when relevant, based on their areas of expertise. Quintin cited the Minister of Finance or his colleague from the Ministry of Defence as responsible for customs.
Remarkably, the MR minister repeated his call to deploy military personnel for static surveillance assignments. According to Quintin, that would free up as many as 200 officers for duties on the street.
"Above all, it shows that the entire government is taking responsibility for what is happening in Belgium - not just in Brussels," he said. "The idea is not to have long days of meetings just to chat. We are consulting in order to decide."
Instead of announcing new measures, the minister believes it is important to implement the coalition agreement. This already contains many issues in the area of Security and Justice.
He cited the development of a new Canal Plan, as well as the merger of the Brussels police zones. As is well known, the 19 mayors are in favour of this. Quintin repeated that the merger is in the coalition agreement and that he will therefore implement it, but also that he is a man of consultation. He wants to visit all remaining mayors within two weeks - he has already visited eight.
Last week, the new public prosecutor repeatedly complained about the situation on the ground. Quintin emphasised that he has been working on this case from day one.
More police officers have been sent to Anderlecht, more people have been deployed in the metro and from Monday, the federal judicial police of Brussels will be reinforced with fifteen people. "I have literally sent in the cavalry," he said. He also believes that the region and the municipalities must take responsibility.
