Tienen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Last weekend or precisely on Saturday, one of BarTien’s employees, a catering company popular in Tienen, was involved in an attack. He was attacked as he was cycling home after work at closing time, receiving critical head, torso, and upper arm injuries, including a fractured eye socket, rib-cracking, and a fractured shoulder.
A BarTien employee was recently assaulted by a knifeman while on his way home from work after closing time, making employees worried for their safety and leading to a demand for better security measures in Tienen. The attack happened on the night of Saturday and early Sunday as the employee was walking home after work. Even then, no arrests have been made to date. His co-worker has been traumatised by the incident and has worries about safety in the city.
“We are all stunned, and everyone is very worried,” expressed a representative from BarTien.
BarTien believes that the deployment of surveillance cameras installed all over the city can make it easier for the police to apprehend the aggressors.
Staff has been discussing possible reductions in operating hours that might be necessary if guaranteeing safety is impossible.
“We are all stunned, and everyone is very worried. If it is not possible in Tienen to go home at any time of the day or night after a hard day’s work, and we can no longer guarantee the safety of the staff, are we then obliged to adjust our closing time?“
They pondered.
Even Mayor Jonathan Holslag has joined the debate, calling for some certainty about the incident:
“I hope that more clarity will soon be provided on this matter, and I think that the most important thing now is for the person in question to report the incident to the police as soon as possible. Only then can the police do their job,”
he said.
What are the rising concerns over safety in Tienen?
This attack is not an exceptional one, but instead, it falls among emerging reports of threats to public safety in Tienen and other comparable cities in Belgium. Recently, there have been numerous cases of violence and harassment aimed at employees, especially those who work the night shift, especially in the hotel industry. Such occurrences have made local authorities and establishment proprietors begin questioning safety measures and consider putting in place other precautionary measures.
The hospitality industry has always been very demanding in terms of working hours, with employees exposed during late-night trips. Some firms have felt the need to reduce the operational hours or else offer transport services to workers in the evening. However, many businesses like BarTien remain open late into the night to attend to customer interests while embracing safety issues.
These problems have also been recognised by local police, so police patrols have been stepped up in the districts where nightlife concentrations are observed to avoid possible acts of violence. However, community members are urging effective measures that not only deal with such features of violence but also other social problems that may lead to such a result. As much as the existing enforcement agencies try their best to arrest and prosecute the culprits, as this case demonstrates, there is a need for collaboration between the business entities, police, and other organisations in order to create a safer space for residents.
