As part of a strategy to tackle growing violence in Brussels, the Federal Judicial Police (FGP) will recruit 67 new inspectors to bolster the presence on the ground.
Some 15 lawyers will also join the Public Prosecutor's Office and the federal railway police will employ 25 further inspectors.
Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt (Open VLD) made these announcements following a spate of shootings in the capital city thought to be linked to a battle for territory between feuding drug gangs.
Political leaders have called for the government to reinforce security measures in response. "Police and justice are doing what they can, but they have their hands full," the mayor of Saint Gilles Jean Spinette (PS) told Bruzz. Saint Gilles was the focal point of last week's series of shootings, which resulted in the death of one person on the Square Jacques Franck on Wednesday.
Severe staff shortages have pushed police to shelve criminal cases due to an inability to get to them all. Police forces themselves have admitted they are under pressure, and Van Tigchelt's announcement hopes to remedy the situation.
Thinly spread
Separately, the Justice Minister was obliged to declare 100 vacancies across the justice system last week following legal action taken against the Belgian State by the Francophone and German-speaking Bar Association.
The subsequent court ruling said Belgium must declare all judicial vacancies within three months or risk a fine of €1,000 per day for each undeclared job posting. The measure was imposed as an attempt to address severe judge shortages, with current staff working up to 54 hours a week in some courts.
Shortages affect almost every level of Belgium's justice system at present, including police forces, prisons, detention centres and justice officials. The latter group have warned that a continued failure to boost its workforce will have "dramatic consequences" for how justice is carried out across the country.
