Brussels crime spate prompts 'zero tolerance'
A shooting in Laeken, a hold-up in Molenbeek and a vandalism spree in Anderlecht over the past fortnight have prompted new calls for a ‘zero tolerance’ policy in dealing with crime in the capital.
Justice Minister Stefaan De Clerck met on Monday, February 1 with police, the mayors of the 19 Brussels communes, and the Brussels public prosecutor to discuss the crime wave, as well as plans for a ‘zero tolerance’ policy, although little headway was reported.
The Laeken incident saw one police officer shot in the leg with a Kalashnikov in a shootout after a failed attempt to hold up a money exchange bureau. Three suspects remain in police custody, one of whom has been charged with attempted larceny, attempted manslaughter and being part of a gang. Earlier, a group of about a dozen vandals left a trail of destruction across Anderlecht, smashing cars, shop window and bus shelters. And days before, a 25-year-old escapee from Namur prison, who raided a Lidl supermarket in Molenbeek, was shot dead by police after a chase.
Prime Minister Yves Leterme has said that authorities have to look at all possible countermeasures “without taboos” as a number of mayors of Brussels communes demanded new powers to counter the rising crime. However, like Interior Minister Annemie Turtelboom, Leterme has ruled out a merger of the capital’s six police zones into one – a suggestion backed by Flemish liberals, socialists and greens.
Source: Brussels Unlimited
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Comments
equal
Every body is equal as a human beings.We all needs safety and secure inside the home and outside into city.We are all seeking for trust and happiness.
Isit good when our children can see lots of violence here and there? Olds are robbed.....smalls are beated....public properties are smashed....... Ha ha, and our Pick-pocketers??????? No, they are robber for me.
Yet there seems less action from authorities. So in these way,cities is loosing its charm and people gainning stress.we need serious action right now.
Mode to be done
Zero tolerance should be in force in every city - not just Brussels.
It's no fun leaving the car in the street in the evening and hoping it will be there (and undamaged in the morning.)
And no fun leaving for work in the morning and hoping the home is OK when you return in the evening.
Life has to be more than worrying about personal safety and they safety of one's belongings.
PS state
This is the direct fault of the PS-state and its laxity and lack of authority. The Froggie PS is directly linked to the BS politics of May 68. Conversely, the Flemish seem to be more in the GErmanic tradition of law and order.
ABOUT TIME !!
They have to do something about this or the situation is gonna escalate really fast!! Brussels has enough infra structure for this. Time for the Belgium-Frenchies cut their BS and cooperate with the flemish! Why people don't complain more? You or your family might be the next victim!!
MV
Crime is not a political issue unless those involved are politically sponsored thugs or gangs. All must be done to combat this. It is the very idea (and the thugs also know) of the little unity in combating crime in the different communes of Brussel that may be giving them a lee-way to contiue in crime and mischief.
If these thugs new that they can be followed into whatever hole they are hiding without the idea of tranfering a chase or suspect or case over to the next police region, they would certainly have little room for mischief.
Unfortunately, the public also seems dis-interested, unless they are the ones affected. Nobody, it seems, wants to spend their time at the station recording statements when in the end little is done there after.