Residents in the Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht area are on alert as a potentially dangerous inmate escaped during a supervised outing on Thursday
Federal police are conducting a search for Steve De Mey, an inmate who escaped custody yesterday while on a supervised outing. He has been put on Belgium’s Most Wanted list, with residents in Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht asked to be vigilant.
De Mey was first arrested in 2018 for aggravated robbery and placed in Ghent’s Forensic Psychiatric Centre (FPC). He attacked a nurse, was convicted of attempted murder and was transferred to FPC Antwerp.
“Steve De Mey could pose a danger in the form of physical violence,” said the police in a statement. “If you see him, do not attempt to approach him yourself but contact the police immediately.”
It sounds to the outside world like a group of recreational cyclists are going for a ride, but nothing could be further from the truth
Sandra Vansteenkiste, FPC
The 44-year-old De Mey has an athletic build and short, brown hair that is grey at the sides. When he escaped from the group bicycle ride, he was wearing black slacks, a blue T-shirt and a light grey hoodie. He was riding a grey Minerva-brand bike.
Questions are circulating as to why a dangerous prisoner is allowed outside at all. “It sounds to the outside world like a group of recreational cyclists are going for a ride, but nothing could be further from the truth,” says Sandra Vansteenkiste of the FPC. “A supervised bike ride follows a release permit that is approved by the court. We have sport facilities in the centre, and after a certain period of time, inmates can also leave the centre to take part in sport, under the supervision of therapists.”
This follows a period of reports made to the court about each prisoner and detailed plans to begin introducing them back into society. It’s a long, step-by-step process that starts small, with two hours outside per month, explains Vansteenkiste.
“When inmates only function within a very strict framework in a high-security environment, you don’t know how things will go outside those walls,” she says. “That, of course, is important to know before they are released and return to society.”