Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo wants to build a police station at Brussels’ Midi station, he announced on Thursday, as part of an action plan to tackle the growing drug problem.
“A police station will be built at the Brussels Midi station. This is one of the 22 measures taken. This has been requested by the local and regional authorities” as well as by the Belgian National Railway Company (SNCB), De croo said on X (formerly Twitter) and at a press conference on Thursday.
The action plan, which contains a mix of social and security measures, aims to “significantly improve the lives of passengers and local residents”, added De Croo. The Midi is Belgium’s main national and international rail hub.
He presented the details of the action plan on Thursday morning during a joint press meeting with Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet, Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden and Minister-President of the Brussels Region, Rudi Vervoort.
The Midi station, struggling with crack users in and around its premises, will have a better system for dealing with drug users, while alcohol consumption will be completely banned, Belgian media reported.
The aesthetics of the station will also be improved thanks to regular cleaning operations aimed at removing tags and graffiti, while poorly lit areas will be brightened up.
The Brussels authorities and SNCB will also work together to share images from their surveillance cameras, Gilkinet announced.
Beyond the new permanent police station, the location and opening date of which have not been announced, the police will patrol more regularly in the South police station.
Cnn