Expat Q&A: What is the role of the Neighbourhood Officer?

Whether you are newly arrived or have settled in Brussels recently, it is essential to get to know your new environment, including the security services available. One of the key figures in your neighbourhood is a police officer known as the ‘agent de quartier’ (neighbourhood officer) whom you will meet as you go through your registration process in the municipality but also on other occasions. The Expat Welcome Desk provides an overview of his or her role, tasks, and how you can contact him or her.

What is a neighbourhood officer?

A neighbourhood officer is a police officer assigned to a specific geographical area. His or her primary role is to ensure safety and promote a sense of community, and is often the point of contact between the police and citizens, playing a crucial role in preventing crime and keeping the peace.

Tasks of the neighbourhood officers

The tasks of the neighbourhood officers include in particular:

• Security: By establishing a visible presence, they help deter criminal acts. For example, they are responsible for security in the vicinity of schools, managing local events (parades, cycling races, flea markets...), and keeping an eye on the general condition of the streets (lighting, signage, road conditions...).
• Managing population movements: They conduct residence enquiries (see below) to verify changes of addresses, registrations, official removals from the population register, etc.
• Mediation: They help resolve conflicts between neighbours and promote good relation in the community. They are in contact with residents and shopkeepers to relay their concerns to the administrative authorities.
• Information: The neighbourhood officer is there to inform you about various administrative and legal aspects under his or her purview as well as any security problems that may arise.

Residence enquiries:

Each municipality must verify whether a person is living on its territory. When you move, you must go to the town hall to register (if you are arriving for the first time in Belgium), or to report your change of address (if you already have a residence card but are moving). In other words, you must provide an address to the municipality. A neighbourhood officer will then come to the declared address to verify whether the names of the residents match your declarations — this is called a residence enquiry. The neighbourhood officer fills out an enquiry form and reports back to the town hall. So don’t be surprised by this visit. It is perfectly normal. Make sure that your name is clearly visible on the doorbell and mailbox. The neighbourhood officer will often want to see you personally and may come by during the day, evening, or weekend. If unable to reach you after several visits, the neighbourhood officer will be forced to submit a negative report to the municipality, which could result in your removal from the national register — an inconvenient situation. So be particularly attentive to this important step!

When should you contact the neighbourhood officer?

Do not hesitate to contact your neighbourhood officer if you notice any suspicious behaviour, have questions about security in your neighbourhood, if you have a dispute with a neighbour, or if you realise that you still haven’t seen him or her for your residence enquiry. The neighbourhood officer is your local contact.

How can you contact him or her?

Brussels is divided into six police zones. To find your neighbourhood officer:

1. Identify your police zone: Each zone covers a specific area of the city.
2. Visit the website: Go to the website of the police zone for your neighbourhood.
3. Enter the name of your street: You can get the contact details of your neighbourhood officer by entering the name of your street.

You can then contact him or her easily by e-mail or telephone.

In a nutshell

The neighbourhood officer is a valuable ally in ensuring your safety and that of your community in Brussels. Don’t hesitate to get in touch and ask him or her any questions you might have. The neighbourhood officer’s task is to help you feel safe and integrated in your new home!

The Expat Welcome Desk is a free service that advises internationals on the practicalities of daily life in the Belgian capital, from accommodation and residence permits to employment rights and taxation, among a number of topics.

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