Unified police zone needed to tackle Brussels' security issues

Security concerns in Brussels continue to dominate the headlines. According to Brussels MP Mathias Vanden Borre, the root of the problem lies in a lack of investment and a fragmented institutional structure. “For years, these issues were not taken seriously—or even outright denied,” he says.

A lack of resources

It is up to the municipalities to allocate funds to their respective police zones. But for years, those investments failed to materialise—a fact also confirmed by Olivier Slosse and Jurgen De Landsheer, the police chiefs of Brussels North and South. They testified last week before the Brussels Parliament’s Committee on Internal Affairs.

Police services under pressure

Moreover, the resources that are available are not always used appropriately. An anonymous letter published last week by Brussels police officers revealed serious allegations: officers being used as drivers for mayors, pressure to extract legal information from police reports, and even manipulating statistics during election periods.

These accounts highlight that the current system is not only inefficient, but also vulnerable to abuse and corruption—seriously undermining public trust in the Brussels police.

One police zone, greater impact

The N-VA has long advocated for merging the various Brussels police zones. “With one strong, unified structure, we can deploy resources more effectively, ensure greater transparency, and reinvest in local policing and community engagement,” says Vanden Borre. “Simply pouring more money into the system won’t solve the problem. We need to streamline the structure and fundamentally rethink how Brussels is organised.”