Brussels courts warn of delays as criminal cases surge

The number of criminal investigations in Brussels has almost doubled in a year, putting severe pressure on the courts. Figures seen by De Standaard show a sharp rise since Julien Moinil became Brussels chief prosecutor in January 2025 and promised a tougher approach to crime.

In the Dutch-speaking court, the number of judicial investigations rose from 1,082 in 2024 to almost 2,000 by late December 2025. On the French-speaking side, cases increased from just over 2,100 to more than 3,600.

The problem, court leaders say, is staffing. The French-speaking court has 17 investigating judges, while the Dutch-speaking court has only five. From 1 January, a sixth investigating judge will be added, but the court says this is far from enough.

Court president Simon Cardon de Lichtbuer warned of a “crash” if extra staff are not provided. To cope with the workload, a judge will be moved from civil cases to criminal investigations. This will cause delays elsewhere, particularly in tax and construction disputes.

The court says it needs 14 extra judges and supporting staff to function properly. 

While the court supports the prosecutor’s tougher crime policy, it says the wider justice system has not been strengthened to match it. Without urgent action, it warns, the public will face longer waits for justice.

^{Palace of Justice in Brussels © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND}