Local police and the Brussels Hotels Association (BHA) have come together to improve foreign visitor access to police services in the Belgian capital and raise crime reporting rates, with the introduction of a new way for victims of crime to contact authorities online and a new portal for hotels.
A police and community representative said city authorities are aware that foreign guests in Brussels who fall victim to crimes such as theft or assault, frequently do not report what has happened during their stay. This can lead to further problems down the line, for example when victims later attempt to claim with insurance companies.
New app to make it easy to report crime
“Regularly, it’s only when foreign visitors return home that they report a non-urgent incident they have been victim to during their stay with us,” said Cécile Jodogne, president Brussels North police college and acting Mayor of Schaerbeek, one of the city’s communes. “These often then become administrative hassles which could sometimes be avoided by immediately reporting problems to the Belgian police.”
Complementing the police website for Belgian citizens, a new app will allow foreign visitors to go online via their hotel’s front desk to let the police know what has happened to them. An incident report is then generated by the police, who follow up by organising a formal crime complaint.
Direct point of police contact for hotels
What’s more, going forward hotels will have a clearly identified point of contact within the police to facilitate access to any services needed. “Thanks to this new tool and our partnership with the Brussels Hotels Association, many more people who are not resident in Belgium will benefit from improved victim support and follow up,” said Divisional Commissioner Olivier Slosse, head of Brussels North police zone.
National changes to policing?
In changes to policing on a national level, meanwhile, up to 100 European border agents are to be deployed at Belgian seaports, airports and at Brussels Midi international train station, with a remit to aid local police. The so-called “Frontex” agents will have powers of arrest and be able to refuse entry to illegal migrants, as long as they are accompanied by police officers. However, critics say the wording of the new bill, proposed by Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt and Home Affairs Minister Annelies Verlinden at the beginning of April and passed by the Belgian Federal Government 2 May, is vague and could lead to abuses of power.
