North District night-time closure scrapped, as crime shifts to daytime

The Brussels municipality of Schaerbeek will scrap its rule that shops in the Rue de Brabant neighbourhood near Brussels-North station must close between 1.00 and 6.00, which was first implemented on a trial basis in April in an effort to curb crime.

“The nights in the neighbourhood are quieter, but crime in general has not decreased,” acting mayor Martin de Brabant (MR) explained, noting that crime, drug use and drug dealing now take place mainly during the day.

“That is not the intended outcome. I will not be proposing to extend these measures. We are considering more sustainable solutions at all levels in the neighbourhood.”

The mayor also highlighted the ‘Plan Trottoir’ proposed by alderwoman Gudrun Willems (Groen) to ensure cleanliness in the neighbourhood and "make the streets cleaner".

“We must continue to work on every aspect of the situation in this neighbourhood,” de Brabant said, noting that additional police officers from the federal government are active in the neighbourhood around the railway station.

De Brabant once again called on Belgium’s migration minister, Anneleen Van Bossuyt (N-VA), to play a bigger part in addressing Schaerbeek’s crime issues.

“My message to her is: take responsibility,” De Brabant said.

“What’s happening here in the neighbourhood is a social tragedy. This is one of the biggest problems in the neighbourhood. We have taken all possible measures at the local level. Now all those in charge must take responsibility.”

Belgium’s interior minister Bernard Quintin (MR) has described the area around Brussels-North station as “a major drug hub”.

“This is because there are a great many undocumented migrants roaming around the station,” Quintin has said, explaining that these migrants are easy prey for drug dealers.

“We must ensure that all measures taken around the station are continued and further strengthened. Criminal undocumented migrants must be deported to maintain and strengthen order around this station.”

The night-time closure rule came as part of a security plan encompassing the area around the station, known for the brothels on Rue d’Aarschot as well as for crime, drug trafficking and drug use.

The plan was introduced following a proposal from a taskforce led by the former mayor of Schaerbeek, Audrey Henry (MR), which had been set up as part of the regional hotspot strategy.

The aim of the plan was to reduce night-time disturbances, crime and drug-related problems in the neighbourhood in a trial that ran until 1 September. But a police report issued on Monday showed that the plan has yielded mixed results.

Schaerbeek collaborated with the neighbouring municipality of Saint-Josse-ten-Node for the plan and both municipalities jointly introduced the night-time closure, but when it was extended in July, the closure was relaxed in different ways in the two municipalities.

It is not yet clear whether Saint-Josse will also lift the night-time closure from next month. Mayor Emir Kir told Bruzz that the decision will be taken officially at Thursday’s police council meeting.