Security: anti-drug commissioner, €10M for stations, stable crime rate

Regional Security Council — strikes on Iran (4 March 2026)

On 4 March 2026, the minister-president convened the Regional Security Council (CORES) following US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The meeting brought together the 19 Brussels mayors, 6 police zone chiefs, the Brussels King's Prosecutor and OCAM representatives.

Belgium's threat level remains at level 3 of 4 ("serious"), unchanged since 16 October 2023. Particular attention is being paid to Israeli, American and Iranian interests on Belgian territory. Police reinforcements were deployed from the preceding weekend.

This was the first activation of CORES under the Dilliès government. Strengthening the Regional Security Council is part of the government accord.

Sources: BX1, DH (4-5 March 2026).

safe.brussels report: state of crime (2024 data)

The annual report of the Brussels Security Observatory (safe.brussels), published on 22 December 2025, provides a factual basis for assessing the RPD's priorities:

Reading: overall crime is not "exploding" in Brussels -- the per-capita rate is declining thanks to population growth (+7.4%). But specific phenomena (drugs, firearms, sexual violence) are rising sharply, which justifies the RPD's targeted priorities (anti-drug commissioner, station security).

Sources: safe.brussels, 2024 annual report (Dec 2025); DH, "la criminalité à Bruxelles n'explose pas" (Jan 2026).

RPD commitments

The Regional Policy Declaration of 13 February 2026 devotes an entire chapter to security, structured around several axes:

Anti-drug efforts

• Regional anti-drug commissioner — dedicated authority, mirroring the federal mechanism
• Integrated regional drug plan — chain approach (prevention, harm reduction, enforcement)

Station security

• €10 million investment for Midi and Nord stations
• Coordination with police zones and SNCB

CCTV and police coordination

• Integration of local CCTV systems into the Federal Police central system
• SAFE.Brussels platform interconnected with CGPI
• Possible police zone mergers (subject to federal vote)
• Local neighbourhood policing stations

SIAMU (fire service)

• Two phases of staff reinforcement
• Improved working conditions
• Federal dotation tripled: the Chamber voted on 5 March 2026 to increase funding from EUR 5.7 to 15.4 million/year, correcting a discrimination identified by the Constitutional Court in 2022. Annual indexation from 2027

Other measures

• Dedicated recruitment pathway for security professions targeting Brussels residents
• Combating street harassment, juvenile delinquency, violence against women and children
• Combating drug trafficking and radicalisation

First field action: Gare du Midi (17 February)

Three days after taking office, the minister-president made his first field visit to the Gare du Midi (Brussels South station), accompanied by the State Secretary for Urban Planning and the mayors of Anderlecht and Forest. His assessment: "there is room for improvement in coordination" between the actors present on site (local police zones, Federal Police, SNCB, Stib, communes).

This visit puts into practice the RPD's security priority and illustrates the coordination challenge underlying the €10 million earmarked for securing the Midi and Nord stations.

Additional security commitments (RPD, chapter 7)

The RPD provides for additional security measures:

• Harmonised municipal administrative sanctions (SAC) : regional harmonisation of municipal administrative penalties, ensuring uniform application across the 19 municipalities
• Regional anti-radicalisation unit : dedicated structure for prevention and detection of radicalisation, complementing the federal system (OCAM)
• Regional anti-drug plan : integrated plan covering prevention, harm reduction, treatment and enforcement — coordinated with the regional drug commissioner

These measures have not yet been implemented through executive texts.

Sources and methodology

The commitments documented above come from the official text of the RPD (chapter 7) and from concordant press sources covering the government agreement of 12 February 2026.

Gare du Nord hotspot task force (March 2026)

On 16 March 2026, the mayors of Schaerbeek (Martin de Brabant, MR) and Saint-Josse (Emir Kir) jointly announced a set of measures for the Quartier Nord hotspot, adopted within the framework of the Local Task Force:

Immediate measures:

• Night closure of all public establishments in the perimeter between 1am and 6am (prostitution venues included) — municipal decree in both municipalities
• Harmonised hours between Schaerbeek and Saint-Josse (ending the arbitrage of crossing to the other side of the street)
• Extension of the public alcohol consumption ban
• Reinforced camera coverage — federal support expected
• E-scooter speed limit in free-floating mode reduced to 8 km/h in the zone
• Reactivation of "safe places" and local prevention partnership

Medium-term measures:

• Integrity investigations into shops in the area (suspected money laundering)
• Redevelopment of rue d'Aerschot, linked to the Station Plan (EUR 10 million envelope)

Sources: La Libre, DH (16-18 March 2026).

Explosion in Schaerbeek (13 March 2026)

On Friday 13 March 2026, a detonation occurred in the evening on avenue Albert Giraud in Schaerbeek. It was a pyrotechnic device according to the Brussels-North police zone spokesperson (Victoire Lorand). A judicial exclusion perimeter was established. The federal police laboratory and a fire expert were called in. No injuries were reported.

Source: La Libre (14 March 2026).

Operation Green Shield: 200 soldiers deployed (23 March 2026)

On 19 March 2026, federal Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (MR) and Defence Minister Theo Francken (N-VA) signed the military deployment agreement dubbed Operation Green Shield. On 23 March 2026, 200 soldiers are deployed simultaneously in Brussels and Antwerp, with a subsequent extension to Liege. Including rotations, approximately 600 personnel are mobilised. 50 soldiers were already assigned to nuclear site security.

Context: rising antisemitism -- attack on the Liege synagogue on 21 March, attempted attack in Antwerp on 24 March. Belgium's threat level remains at level 3 of 4 ("serious").

Missions:

• Static surveillance of Jewish community sites (synagogues, schools)
• Joint police/military patrols in train stations and STIB/MIVB stops -- reinforced security in metro stations and Brussels train stations
• FIPA operations (integrated large-scale police operations): combating drug trafficking and organised crime in the Brussels-Capital Region

Duration: three months initially, reduction to 90 soldiers if extended beyond that. Joint patrols in Brussels will effectively start only from April 2026 (BX1).

This is a federal measure with direct impact on Brussels. The federal Justice Minister criticised the initial announcement, stating it had not been discussed in the Council of Ministers.

Sources: RTBF (16, 19 and 23 March 2026), BX1, La Libre, DH, L'Avenir, BusinessAM (23 March 2026).

Assault at Anderlecht CPAS (25 March 2026)

On Wednesday 25 March 2026, around 10:30am, an individual assaulted a security guard at the Anderlecht CPAS (public social welfare centre) as well as two police officers from the Brussels-Midi zone. The man, locked in an interview booth, destroyed the furniture before being subdued by a canine unit. The CPAS was closed for the afternoon.

This incident reflects rising tensions at Brussels CPAS centres, linked to the federal unemployment reform (benefit exclusions) that is placing increasing pressure on social welfare centres.

E-scooter Accidents

The Vias Institute recorded 541 injuries in e-scooter accidents in Brussels in 2024. In Q1 2025, the increase reached +62% nationally and +44% in Brussels. The Region accounts for 45% of all e-scooter accidents in the country. Among seriously injured victims, 60% suffered head injuries.

Source: Vias Institute, 2024-2025 analyses.

Military extension: 45 additional soldiers in stations and metro (3 April 2026)

From 3 April 2026, 45 additional soldiers are deployed in train stations and metro stations in Brussels, carrying out mixed patrols with the railway police. This brings the total military presence in public space to approximately 245 soldiers (200 from Operation Green Shield + 45 station reinforcements).

Legal grey area: the deployment takes place in a legal void — the Defence codex, which is supposed to provide the legal framework for domestic military operations, has not yet been voted by Parliament. Legal experts have raised concerns about the constitutional basis for sustained military presence in civilian spaces without explicit legislative authorisation. The current deployment relies on emergency executive decisions rather than a proper legal framework.

Sources: BX1, DH (April 2026).

Fraud investigation: ex-director of the police academy (April 2026)

A fraud investigation has been opened against the former director of the Brussels police academy. The investigation concerns suspected financial irregularities in the management of the academy. Details remain limited as the judicial inquiry is ongoing.

Source: press reports (April 2026).

Brussels-North zone: crime down 12% in 2025

The Brussels-North police zone (Polbruno: Schaerbeek, Evere, Saint-Josse) presented its 2025 results on 3 April 2026:

Violence remains concentrated in the North Quarter, which requires "more than ever" particular attention. Persistent challenges: violent robberies, domestic violence, cybercrime.

Source: BX1 / La Libre / DH (3-4 April 2026). Confidence: official (police zone).