As the increasing security problems around Brussels Midi station will now be tackled, the mayors of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode and Schaerbeek want to remind the Federal Government that there are also many problems at the "forgotten" North Station.
Brussels North station has had a bad reputation for years, with local residents complaining of persisting feelings of insecurity and high crime figures, and companies refusing to operate in the area. The local police have stepped up their patrols in the area, but often at the expense of officers who could be deployed elsewhere.
"At a time when the safety of the Midi station is finally being addressed, what about that of the North station?" said Saint-Josse-ten-Noode Mayor Emir Kir on social media.
It is high time we took concerted and constructive action to ensure that the safety of the station and its surroundings is finally secured," he added. "We would like to see the same level of attention and commitment to the challenges we face."
Untenable situation
Unlike the issues at Midi station which have seemingly only been escalating in recent months, the issues in the North Quarter and around the station have been well-documented for many years. Still, the National Crisis Centre (NCCN) has only been tasked with bringing together all the relevant partners from the various levels of government and services involved to tackle the problems in the international train station in the south of Brussels.
In October 2021, Schaerbeek Mayor Cécile Jodogne already called the situation at the North station "untenable," after which the Brussels regional authorities and the Federal Government agreed to appoint a coordinator for the North Station and its surroundings.
That person would facilitate the consultations that are already taking place between associations, police forces and local politicians to get a better grip on the issue. However, the coordinator who would lead that network has not yet been chosen, Jodogne's office confirmed to Bruzz.
Safe.Brussels is in charge of recruiting this coordinator and reportedly also received several suitable applications in the meantime. Jodogne is hopeful that the coordinator will still be able to take office before the end of this year.
In the past two years, neither Schaerbeek nor Saint-Josse has seen improvement in terms of help from the Federal Government, such as police presence or a coordinated approach to keep undocumented migrants (who were not given the shelter they are legally entitled to) and homeless people off the streets. If anything, the situation has deteriorated.
The Belgian Government seems to have "forgotten" about the North station, said Kir. "Alongside my colleague Jodogne, I have asked for the Federal Government's input several times. On the ground, we have yet to see this reflected. You just have to walk around the neighbourhood to see that the problems persist."
