Belgium’s federal government is allocating €25 million to expand the police CCTV network or repair equipment. Brussels and Antwerp will receive €7.5 million each. Ghent can count on €1 million extra. Smaller towns and municipalities will also receive a contribution.
Home News
Federal government releases cash for expansion of police CCTV network in Brussels and other cities
Colin Clapson
Published:
‘Cameras are the eyes of our law enforcement agencies. They make it possible to record incidents linked to insecurity and collect crucial data, for example in the fight against both petty and serious crime,’ interior minister Bernard Quintin (Francophone liberal) says.
The new cameras that are being purchased will be connected to the existing ANPR or Automatic Number Plate Recognition network. This will allow all police zones to make use of the collected data. The federal government is also working on a new analysis tool to, among other things, detect wanted vehicles even more quickly.
The 25 million euros that the federal government is handing out to the country's police zones is 5 million more than previously planned. Brussels and Antwerp will receive €15 million between them. Minister Quintin wants to use the money to tackle the rise in drug-related crime more decisively.
€5 million will go to the other major cities. Ghent, Liège, Namur, Charleroi and Mons will each receive €1 million. The remaining €5 million will be distributed among other zones, based on the size of the police force.