Merger of police zones: a first step for the safety of Brussels residents

During her appearance on BX1's “Versus” programme dedicated to the merger of the Brussels police zones, Brussels MP Aurélie Czekalski defended a vision that goes beyond mere police reform: that of a modernised, more efficient public action, more focused on citizens' concrete needs. This reform represents an important first step towards optimising our administrations and making more efficient use of public funds. Given the changes in our society, maintaining structures designed according to old organisational models can no longer be a sufficient response to current challenges. The finding is clear. Organised crime networks are becoming more structured, drug trafficking is growing exponentially, and violence knows no territorial boundaries. At the same time, citizens' expectations are also changing: more police presence on the ground, greater proximity and stronger intervention capacity. Today, the six Brussels police zones mobilise more than 6,500 operational officers and nearly 1,000 logistics staff spread across different structures. The aim of the reform is not to create an additional administration, but rather to simplify the existing organisation in order to improve the coordination of resources and strengthen operational efficiency. The aim is also to reinvest more resources directly on the ground: more police presence in neighbourhoods, more equipment and a better response capacity to crime phenomena that far exceed municipal boundaries. This development also addresses a broader issue: rebuilding trust between citizens and their police. Over the years, many have felt that a certain distance has developed. Maintaining police stations and enabling officers to be more present among residents are essential priorities. Aurélie Czekalski, Brussels MP: “We can no longer keep multiplying structures, decision-making levels and fragmented powers when the challenges we face require greater coherence. Rationalising our resources, simplifying our organisation and strengthening the efficiency of public action does not mean doing less; it means doing better. The goal is clear: to put an end to fragmentation in order to mobilise more resources where they are truly needed, in the service of citizens.”

Link to the full “Versus” programme

Video excerpts:

Merger of police zones in Brussels: towards greater efficiency and security Modernising the Brussels police to better respond to realities on the ground