This is a major step forward for the safety of Brussels residents and the efficiency of police services. On the initiative of Bernard Quintin, our Minister of the Interior, the federal government has given the green light for the merger of the 6 police zones of the Brussels-Capital Region into a single unified zone.
The new unified zone will have centralised command, with an overall vision of security at regional level. It will allow for a better distribution of personnel, balanced representation between large and small municipalities, and a greater presence on the ground, closer to citizens.
A budget of €55 million over 5 years will support this reform to guarantee its operational effectiveness. The text also provides for the abolition of the Police Councils, which will generate an estimated saving of €2 million per year.
Beyond Brussels, the minister also recalled that incentives are planned to encourage mergers of police zones across the whole of Belgium, with a target date of 2029.
The MR welcomes this progress driven by Bernard Quintin. It is a reform based on common sense, consistency and results. Because when it comes to security, citizens expect action, not speeches.