The federal coalition agreement contains a long list of policies on policing, security and justice. The aim is to address issues that have arisen in the past. Tackling sexual violence, fiscal fraud and the activities of drug gangs are priorities. Addressing issues such as overcrowding and violence against staff in our prisons have also been prioritised.
Tackling sexual abuse
The new government intends to ensure that the recommendations made by the Commission of Enquiry into sexual abuse will be implemented. Priority is being given to tackling the sexual abuse of children. Police officers will be allowed to create virtual online profiles both as a preventative or as repressive measure to find child sexual abusers that use the internet.
Face recognition, AI and biometrics
The new federal government hopes to use AI, intelligent cameras and face recognition technology to track down suspects. This kind of technology will only be used when concerns about the public’s security outweigh concerns about privacy. The government says that the of biometric checks is an option to keep known hooligans out of football stadiums.
Stiffer sentences and ensure that these are served
There will be a policy of zero tolerance for violence against the police, firefighters, paramedics and teachers. The public prosecutor’s office will no longer be allowed not to prosecute in such cases. Stiffer sentences will be given to members of drug gangs, drug barons and those involved in money laundering.
Anyone that has been granted Belgian nationality during the past 15 years and is convicted of serious crimes (organised crime, murder, manslaughter and sex offences), risks having their Belgian nationality revoked. The new government also intends to modify the law on early release. For those convicted of sex offences in particular, the rules will be tightened.
The fight against terrorism
Foreign Terrorist Fighters should preferably be tried in the country where their offences were committed. Convicted terrorists that received a sentence of 2 years or more will be kept under observation for the rest of their lives.
Belgium also will press for a European black list to be drafted with the names of hate preachers that would be banned from entering the EU.
Fiscal fraude
300 extra staff will be recruited to assist the fight against fiscal fraud. Investments will also be made in improving the depth of specialised knowledge of those involved in tackling fiscal fraud.
A legal framework will be drafted for data mining in databanks such as the central databank for accounts and financial contracts. Cryptocurrency accounts will have to be declared to databank as will online gambling accounts worth more than 10,000 euro.
The country’s prisons
The new government recognises that there are pressing issues in the country’s prisons. Measures will be taken, but which measures are still unclear. Modular units are one option, while another is Denmark’s example of doing deals with other European countries to build prisons to house prisoners that are in the country illegally.
One local policing area for the whole of Brussels
The federal government intends to merge the existing 6 local police services in Brussels into 1 police service for the whole of the capital. Police officers that wish to work for local police services in areas that are peripheral to Brussels will be given an additional payment on top of their standard salary.
Community policy
The new government wants also to invest in community policing. The aim is to ensure that there is at least 1 community police officer per 2,000 residents.
Federal police must become more efficient
An efficiency audit will be carried out on the federal police service. There will also be an open discussion on the respective roles of the local and federal police services. Federal police departments such as the Special Unit (DSU) the Judicial Police (FGP) and the Aviation Police (LPA) will be strengthened.