More police checks to tackle drug problems in Belgian prisons

Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne (Open Vld) wants more police checks on drug possession in Belgian prisons. In addition, the Minister foresees extra resources to free detainees from their addiction.

In 2019, there were still 183 drug checks, but due to the corona crisis, these checks within prison walls have not been possible in recent years. Yet they are necessary, as experts estimate that about one in three inmates is struggling with a drug addiction.

"We are going to systematically increase the drug controls", Minister Van Quickenborne said today during a police control in Ghent.

Drug dogs will search actively and passively for forbidden substances inside the prison walls, but also in the prison cells.

"If drugs are found, disciplinary sanctions will follow. That can be up to one month of isolation."

In extreme cases, the public prosecutor's office is called in and additional penalties can be imposed.

Besides more controls, Minister Van Quickenborne also promises to provide extra resources to help detainees kick the habit. Addicted prisoners need to be helped, because their use of drugs can reduce their chances of reintegration into society.

Ghent prison in East Flanders is the first to start a project to help prisoners with a drug addiction. About 15 out of 130 detainees that are currently struggling with drug addiction, are guided during 40 weeks, almost the whole year, in an attempt to tackle their destructive habits.

The framework of the project is partly financed by the profit that the prison makes from the work done by the inmates. It concerns the production of fire baskets, mouth masks or pallets within the framework of the 'cell-made' programme.

The guidance project should eventually be rolled out in other prisons as well, but that still needs to be outsourced.

"The intention is to expand it to other prisons, such as Leuven," Van Quickenborne said. "And in other places there is also demand to do so."

© BELGA PHOTO CHRISTOPHE KETELS: Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne pictured during the press-visit to the Brussels Justice Palace, for the inauguration of four new, highly secured courtrooms, 'Box in the Box', in Brussels, Friday 25 March 2022.