The Federal Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (Francophone liberal) has released details of the federal government’s plan to merge the 6 local police services in the Brussels-Capital Region. The merger of the local police services in Brussels doesn’t enjoy support among the mayors of the capital’s 19 municipalities. Nevertheless, Mr Quintin says that he will impose the merger come what may.
The Flemish parties have long been in favour of 1 local police service for the whole of Brussels. However, Francophone parties and above all the mayors of Brussels’ 19 municipalities are opposed to this. Despite, the opposition of the capital’s mayors, all of whom are Francophone and some of whomare members of parties that form part of the federal coalition, the merger of Brussels’ local police services was included in the federal coalition agreement.
The series of shootings and other drug-related violence that has occurred in Brussels in recent months has bought the merge to the fore. The Federal Interior and Security Minister Bernard Quintin has worked out a plan for the merger of the 6 local police services into 1 local police service for the whole of the capital.
A central police command lead by 1 Chief Commissioner will take operational decisions in consultation with the elected members of the police cabinet and the judicial authorities. The members of the police cabinet will include the 19 municipal mayors and the First Minister of the Brussels-Capital Region.
In his plan Mr Quintin writes that "The role of the mayors is crucial. Together they will decide how police resources are spread throughout the area and we will provide for an equitable and fair representation of all municipalities”. Meanwhile, the local mayor will remain responsible for administrative police duties in their municipality.
Mr Quintin will also provide for the formation of a special metro police to patrol the capital’s underground railway. This will be under the command of the new merged local police service. He aims to have the bill that will provide for the merger approved by parliament by the end of the year. The merger should be implemented by 2027.
The Interior and Security Minister intends to review the financing of the police in Brussels. Currently, the capital’s police services are financed based on population figures from the 1990’s. Since then there has been a significant increase in the population of the Brussels-Capital Region.