Police officers in Brussels have sent an anonymous letter to press agency Belga expressing their support for the merger of the Belgian capital’s six police zones and complaining about “anomalies and even abuse” that they observe in their daily work.
According to the letter, the proposal under consideration will improve the efficiency of police work and would allow better exchange of information, personnel, and equipment between zones.
The police officers believe that the merger would also bring to light abuses of the police for political or personal purposes. In some areas, they allege, mayors ask officers to perform tasks that have nothing to do with their duties, such as driving them to appointments in a police vehicle.
In addition, they complain about practices such as reducing the number of crime reports in order to maintain the area’s statistics, especially in the run-up to elections.
The planned merger of police zones aims to address the long-standing fragmentation of policing in Brussels but some mayors have warned that the merger could weaken community policing.
Under the proposal, a central police command led by a single chief of police will make operational decisions in consultation with the judiciary and the police council.
Brussels has been riddled with crime and gang-related violence for many years, with the latest shooting leaving one person seriously injured.
