Police in Blankenberge are patrolling the town and beach on horseback during the busy tourist season.
The horseback officers from the federal police can be deployed during busy periods by the local police zone. A few years ago it was decided not to deploy them after complaints about the mess left behind.
“It is true that a number of people experienced inconvenience from that,” says chief of police Dimitry Vandamme, “but we have now found a solution. There is a collaboration with the city’s technical department. If there are complaints, we can ask them to clean up. Otherwise, we just let nature do its work.”
The local police zone considers the horses an added value during the summer because they increase the sense of security and make the police more approachable. “Animals always make people more likely to say something to an officer,” Vandamme says. “They create connection.”
The horses are deployed on the beach and in residential areas. Vandamme: “We won’t patrol the beach if there are too many people at high tide. Then there is just not enough space, especially on the stretch between the pier and the jetty, where most tourists go. On other parts of the beach, we can usually get through smoothly with the horses.”