Harelbeke (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Harelbeke, led by Mayor Michaël Vannieuwenhuze, boosts police powers to curb public disturbances. He urges regional cooperation with towns like Kortrijk and Waregem to address youth-related issues effectively.
As VRT News reported, Harelbeke, in the province of West Flanders, Belgium, is trying to deal with Nuisances. Police officers can now check IDs and search people if they think they have drugs or other illegal items. Mayor Michaël Vannieuwenhuze says this is already helping, with police able to act faster and make areas safer.
The city wants to make public spaces safer, especially in places where there have been problems. By allowing these searches and increasing police presence, Harelbeke hopes to stop bad behaviour and show residents that safety is important.
What are Harelbeke and nearby towns doing to tackle nuisances?
Mayor Vannieuwenhuze also sees a problem with these stricter rules; the trouble might just move to nearby towns. He says that when other cities like Kortrijk and Kuurne got tough, the problems came to Harelbeke. Now that Harelbeke is acting, the issue could go somewhere else.
To stop this, the mayor wants to work with other leaders in the area. He wants to create a plan together, using the same police methods, sharing information, and working together to prevent problems. This way, they can deal with the issues not just in one town, but across several.
Mayor Michaël Vannieuwenhuze wants to work with nearby towns to solve problems with public disturbances, especially those involving young people. He plans to ask leaders from places like Kortrijk and Waregem to team up.
He suggests they should work more closely together by sharing information and helping each other out. The mayor points out that the young people causing trouble often come from other areas, making it important for towns to coordinate so they can respond quickly and effectively.
The mayor notes that Harelbeke police often deal with young people from other areas, making it harder to enforce rules without a coordinated plan. Vannieuwenhuze suggests that youth workers and street workers should also work together across town lines.
He said this would allow them to monitor, assist, and direct young people before their behaviour resulted in bigger issues. The mayor wants a plan that builds and combines police work with social support, with the ultimate aim of making sure young people receive the support they need, and enhancing public order and improvements in communities.
