Brussels Mayor concerned about the number of police officers required
The mayor of Brussels, Philippe Close, is concerned about the recruitment of police officers at a time when the government announced the gradual withdrawal of the military from street surveillance. For his police zone (Brussels-Capital / Ixelles), he is 200 police officers short, he warned Monday in a tweet.
The withdrawal in question refers to military personnel assigned to patrol stations and subway stations.
In any case, the local police is not supposed to intervene in these places, only as a substitute or assistance to the federal police.
Les militaires vont se retirer mais nous ne voyons rien venir pour le recrutement de policiers supplémentaires. Nous avons prévu les budgets (6 millions d’euros) mais pas un policier de plus à l’horizon ! (Il en manque 200 pour la zone Bxl).
— Philippe Close (@PhilippeClose) August 20, 2018
The military will always be involved in the monitoring of “strategic” places, such as certain embassies and the headquarters of international institutions and Jewish organizations.
“This is not a criticism but a call to cooperate and receive these agents as quickly as possible,” said the mayor’s spokesperson.
