Majority of Flemish mayors feel unable to tackle local safety problems
Six in 10 Flemish mayors say they cannot adequately deal with safety problems in their town or city, according to a new survey commissioned by Flemish minister for the Interior and Society Hilde Crevits. The figure rises to more than 70 per cent in large and medium-sized municipalities.
Around 170 mayors took part in the survey, which compared views from small towns (under 15,000 residents), medium-sized towns (15,000-35,000) and large cities (over 35,000).
Overall, 59.4 per cent said they struggled to address safety issues. Concern is highest in medium-sized municipalities (72.7 per cent) and large cities (71.4 per cent). In smaller towns, the figure drops to 43.4 per cent. Larger and medium-sized places also report a growing sense of insecurity among residents.
Half of all mayors say they lack the information-sharing tools needed to carry out effective safety policy. This rises to 64 per cent in large cities.
Drug-related problems are viewed as the biggest challenge. Eight in 10 mayors call them important or very important. Litter and traffic follow. Half of the mayors say they are particularly worried about the safety of older residents.
Flanders already uses joint safety groups, known as Local Integrated Security Cells (LIVCs), but these currently focus only on radicalisation, extremism and terrorism. Crevits wants to expand their remit to include nuisance issues such as drug use.
She will also set up a support team within the Agency for Home Affairs to give local authorities legal and administrative help, for example on place bans or administrative fines.
#FlandersNewsService | Police in Antwerp © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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