Since measures have been taken to clean up Brussels South Railway Station and its environs, residents in parts of the municipality of Sint-Gillis that is adjacent to station have seen a big increase in the number of drug dealers on the streets near to their homes. Some have now set up an action group and are collecting evidence that will help the police catch the dealers. The Mayor of Sint-Gillis Jean Spinette (Francophone socialist) is calling for a zero-tolerance policy towards drug dealers and their customers like that which is currently in force in Liège.
In parts of Sint-Gillis dealers openly sell drugs on the streets day and night. This is the case on the small square at the end of the Wipstraat. Locals says that for the past few months the situation there has got completely out of hand.
One local resident told the Brussels regional news platform Bruzz that "I have the feeling that since the operation to clean up South Station the drug dealers are more spread out in Sint-Gillis and Kuregem”.
A group of local residents that wishes to remain anonymous is now taking measures to try and get rid of the dealers. They say that the police aren’t doing enough and they are now filming the dealers in action and sending the footage to the police.
An effective way to tackle the dealers?
But is this an effective method to tackle the issue of drug dealing in a residential area. The criminologist Mattias De Backer told VRT News that "Social control is the very best method we know to tackle crime. But there are risks”.
These don’t only include physical risks to the safety of those involved, but also ethical issues. "For example, civilians taking on the role of a police officer. Before you know it, you have a situation in which residents develop initiatives of their own though a vigilante group”.
“Follow the example of Liège”
The Mayor of Sint-Gillis Jean Spinette (Francophone socialist) told Bruzz that "The police often detain people that then are often later released. I am constantly in contact with all residents that wish to speak to me about this issue. I have already often passed on information to the police”.
"This is an area that is located between 2 hotspots, the Bethlehemplein and the Sint-Antoniusplein”. Mr Spinette says that when police carry out operations at these hotspots dealers move to locations nearby, including the square at the end of the Wipstraat.
Mr Spinette calls for a zero-tolerance policy not only with regard to dealers but also to their customers. Such a system is already in force in Liège and Mr Spinette says that it is proving effective. He hopes that the appointment of the new Chief Prosecutor in Brussels will bring changes that will help address the issue of drug dealing on the streets of Sint-Gillis and elsewhere.