Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The city of Ghent is placing 4 cameras in Brugse Poort after months of trouble, supported by Mayor Mathias De Clercq, with over 300 patrols and 60 reports already made.
As VRT News reported, the city of Ghent is taking more action to deal with ongoing trouble in the Brugse Poort neighbourhood. The police have now been permitted to place 4 cameras in the area. They mentioned that this comes after several months of problems, which started getting worse in the spring.
Mayor Mathias De Clercq (Voor Gent) says,
“The police are now asking for extra support through cameras, and we of course give permission for that.”
What will Ghent’s camera plan and patrol boost mean for Brugse poort?
2 cameras will be placed at Seghersplein and 2 more at Bevrijdingslaan. According to officials, these are places where trouble often happens. They mentioned that the cameras will help the police keep an eye on what is going on and react faster if something bad happens.
They are not replacing police officers, but will work together with the police, who will still be active in the nearby streets and public areas. The city says these actions are part of a bigger plan that mixes strict law enforcement with help from the community.
Police mentioned that by using the cameras, taking action against homes and shops that cause problems, and working with local partners, Ghent wants to make the Brugse Poort area safe and peaceful again, while still treating people in a fair and legal way.
According to Ghent, the cameras in Brugse Poort will be installed by February 2026. The city is using a temporary mobile camera on a mast while it rolls out the permanent cameras, which will take time. This way, the police can begin to monitor the area and gather footage.
The surveillance cameras were requested by opposition parties due to resident concerns. Previously, the police chief had issues with image quality due to the fibre optic network, but that has been resolved.
The city is also using other methods to improve safety. Over 300 patrols have occurred, resulting in 60 reports, 20 administrative arrests, and 10 judicial arrests. Furthermore, 10 people without legal papers were detained for potential deportation.
In March 2025, the city had already started a plan to deal with the issues. That action plan involved checking identity cards, deploying additional police patrols, visiting young troublemakers’ homes, and working with other services and local groups. The purpose was to make the police more visible and demonstrate a collaborative approach with the community to tackle the underlying problems of the nuisance.
City officials say these actions have helped, but not enough. The problems have not completely gone away. The biggest issues are still related to drugs and people who are living in the area without legal papers. These things continue to make the situation difficult for the police and social workers to manage.
