Council of State reopens debate on house arrest on New Year's Eve
The Council of State is set to reopen the debate on the use of house arrest during New Year’s Eve on 31 December at 10:00. The legal body announced this on Monday.
This follows an appeal made by the parents of a 17-year-old boy who challenged the preventive house arrest the city of Antwerp imposed on him. Last Friday, an auditor at the Council of State advised suspending the measure, calling it “disproportionate.”
In response, Antwerp Mayor Bart De Wever’s (N-VA) office acted quickly. The city withdrew the boy’s house arrest but immediately issued a new, reportedly better-justified order to keep the repeat offender at home.
"The case will be rescheduled for 31 December to allow the parties to express their opinions on whether, following the withdrawal decision of 27 December 2024, the case still has a purpose and whether the requesting party still has a valid interest in pursuing their claim," the Council of State stated.
According to De Wever, the Council of State has never questioned the instrument of preventive house arrest. "We are taking into account the recommendations made by the Council during the hearing and will follow up on them in legal and technical terms," his office said last week.
As in previous years, the city of Antwerp issued preventive house arrest orders to dozens of young repeat offenders earlier in December. The aim, according to city officials, is to “create a carefree New Year’s Eve.” Police will conduct checks on New Year’s Eve to ensure that those under house arrest comply with the measure.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO JORGE DIRKX
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