Campaign against thefts by delinquents without a residence permit is big success

The GAUDI project, which focuses on thefts committed by delinquents who are in the country illegally, is a big success. More delinquents were arrested, detained and deported than during the same period last year. The project was inspired by N-VA standard bearers Jan Jambon, Minister of Security and the Interior, and Theo Francken, Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration.

“During the holiday and sales season, pickpockets and shoplifters cause a great deal of trouble in many of the major shopping cities. Some of them do not have a Belgian residence permit. Thanks to this campaign, we were able to arrest 149 delinquents without a residence permit; many more than during the same period last year,” says Francken. These delinquents ran a risk of being detained that was two and a half times higher than during the same period last year.

The pilot project started on 11 December 2014 and ended on 18 January 2015. Eight Belgian cities participated: Antwerp, Brussels, Charleroi, Eigenbrakel, Ghent, Leuven, Liege and Molenbeek. As part of the campaign, even other violations of public order were addressed, such as drug-related offences, assault and battery charges, fencing stolen goods, etc.