Parliament gives green light to a single Brussels police zone

Today, the Belgian Parliament approved the bill merging Brussels’ six police zones into one integrated police zone. According to MP Maaike De Vreese, the reform has been overdue for years: “A single integrated police zone will finally provide a clearer chain of command, faster cooperation and greater operational strength on the ground.”

During previous legislative terms, Maaike De Vreese repeatedly raised concerns about the fragmented policing structure in Brussels and had already submitted her own legislative proposal on the issue. “Brussels still operates with six separate police zones, each with its own priorities and structures. That leads to delays, fragmentation and inefficiency in the fight against crime and public nuisance,” she said.

A more efficient security approach

The reform is intended to deliver a more efficient approach to security in the capital. By centralising cooperation, the police services will have more room for specialisation, better coordination between departments and a more targeted deployment of personnel and resources. For Brussels residents, policing should also become clearer and more effective.

According to N-VA, the reform will not affect the existing community balances. Representation of Dutch speakers and democratic oversight will remain fully guaranteed.

For the party, the reform goes beyond policing alone. “This also sends a clear signal that Brussels needs greater administrative simplicity and more efficiency. Anyone who takes security seriously must be willing to reform structures that are no longer working,” Maaike De Vreese concluded.