Belgium’s federal government's has proposed a new action plan following last week’s Brussels attack that claimed the lives of two Swedish football fans. The plan is intended to tackle the problems involving the police and judiciary that have been dragging on for years. These were painfully exposed last week by the attack in which two Swedish football fans were shot dead. A database of all persons who have been ordered to leave the country will also be created.
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PM De Croo unveils action plan for police and judiciary following Brussels attack
Colin Clapson
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These were painfully exposed last week by the attack in which two Swedish football fans were shot dead. The government says it wants to learn lessons from what happened. As expected, a possible resignation of Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden (Flemish Christian democrat/CD&V) is no longer an issue, though Justice Minister Van Quickenborne (Flemish liberal/Open VLD) has resigned.
"We must learn lessons and take measures," said Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Flemish liberal/Open VLD). Speaking at a press conference Mr De Croo again touched on the "particularly serious individual mistake at the Brussels public prosecutor's office" and proposed a number of precise measures that should finally solve the many problems at the Brussels judiciary and make communication between justice and police smoother. A Brussels prosecutor failed to act after Tunisia sought the suspect’s extradition over a year before the fatal shooting.
The Brussels prosecutor's office's will in future be at full capacity: five extra magistrates will be appointed.
A legal procedure will be introduced governing the appointment of the senior crown prosecutor in Brussels.
The daily management of the Brussels prosecutor's office will be strengthened.
The Brussels federal judicial police will get 50 extra officers.
Railway police in Brussels will get 25 extra staff.
The Committees that scrutinise the work of the intelligence and police services will carry out an analysis of the procedures and see whether they are sufficient.
Sharing of information between the Immigration Department, the police and judiciary will be improved: a database of all persons who have been ordered to leave the country will be created.