Anderlecht (The Brussels morning Newspaper): The mayors of Anderlecht want a permanent police station at Brussels-South station to address social and security issues caused by undocumented immigrants in the area.
The two mayors from the Socialist Party wrote a letter sharing their concerns about the Brussels-South district, which has many social and security problems. They, along with the local police, said they are working hard to tackle these issues. They stressed that having a strong police presence is important to keep the area safe and orderly.
What are Anderlecht Mayors’ concerns about Brussels-South police plans?
One main issue they mentioned is about the plan to set up a small police office at the Brussels-South station instead of a full police station. They think this is not enough because the station is very important and has more passengers than Zaventem airport, which is one of the busiest airports in Belgium. The mayors believe that a strong, permanent police station is needed at the station to manage the large number of passengers and the security problems that come with such a busy place.
Their argument is based on the belief that a large international station needs full-time police presence to keep people safe, stop crime and quickly respond to any problems. The mayors say that just having a small police office wouldn’t be enough. They think a fully equipped police station is necessary to handle the busy environment of the station and the areas around it.
They say a lot of arrests in the area are for illegal residents. The mayors explain this is because Fedasil has set up temporary shelters near the station, which are now staying there. Many undocumented people are in the area and while they wait for answers about their situation, they often get pulled into crime, sometimes against their will. They say there are plans to handle cases and provide help near the international station without talking to local leaders first. They want Dutordoir to back them in asking for a national plan that has been needed for over 20 years, not just passing the problem to the Brussels authorities, who are already struggling with poverty. Secretary of State for Migration Nicole De Moor disagrees. She believes people living here illegally and causing trouble shouldn’t be spread out to get support and should go back home.
