Brussels mayor stands against ban on begging

The City of Brussels will not introduce laws against begging any time soon, said Brussels mayor Yvan Mayeur in response to a question from the city council about the begging problem in the capital. The question came after Brussels state secretary Bianca Debaets called for an action plan to tackle the increasing number of beggars on Brussels' streets.

Debaets' plea comes as Samusocial's winter shelter programme comes to an end, sending many homeless people back outside, especially to public spaces like the pedestrian zone. She therefore asked the city council to take action. "I have never said that these people should be left to their fate, but I did request for them to get help from specialised services," she explained. "Because something has to be done about the nuisance, which merchants have been complaining about for ages."

"We will not forbid begging, because that does not work," Mayor Mayeur stated clearly. In order to tackle the problem of begging, the Brussels-Capital Region should expand winter care for the rest of the year, he said.

Mayeur stands firm in his belief that the City is not solely responsible: "I refuse to see this as only a problem for the police," he said. "Some of the beggars who show up every year are Roma. They stay in the winter shelters, but also continue to hang around in the city, often refusing any kind of help."