© AP
During the city council, Brussels mayor Philippe Close (PS) outlined the state of affairs about the measures that his police zone has already taken to combat drug violence in the territory of the city of Brussels. According to Close, several Brussels mayors involved have “decided together” that the police “will be present everywhere to overcome the problem.”
In 2023, 411 arrests were made by the police in the context of drug violence and drug sales, and 258 of those people were placed at the disposal of the public prosecutor’s office. 63 have been placed under arrest mandate. In addition, Close says that one hundred inspectors have been added to the police force since the start of the current legislature. “There need to be more, but it is already a start,” Close believes.
Since 2020, the city of Brussels has also been working with the Immigration Office in the context of the ‘High Trouble’ pilot project. 67 drug dealers who did not have a valid residence permit were removed from the territory through the project, Close said.
Specifically speaking about the police actions of the past week in the context of the drug violence at the Halle Gate and other places in the city, Mayor Close says that six arrests were made at the drug hotspots on the territory of the city of Brussels, five of which were transferred to the public prosecutor. “Together with our fellow mayors, we have decided that the police will be present everywhere to overcome the problem.” The local investigation team was also reinforced with five officers.
“We can be very proud of the police of the city of Brussels and the work they do. They are very motivated and are always looking for solutions,” says Close. The Brussels mayor also points to good cooperation with the other police zones over the past week. “The work is not finished yet, but the determination is there.”