Prison staff angered as government fails to act on overcrowding
Belgium’s prison service and trade unions say they are deeply disappointed after the government failed to agree on new measures to tackle overcrowding.
The issue was discussed during the final cabinet meeting of the year, but no deal was reached. Prison service spokesperson Kathleen Van De Vijver said morale among staff is very low. “Our courage is really slipping away,” she said.
Justice minister Annelies Verlinden had proposed allowing some prisoners to be released up to a year early. Unions believe this could ease pressure, but the proposal was blocked by coalition partners, including MR.
The situation in prisons remains severe. Belgium’s prisons hold 13,397 inmates, despite having space for only 10,795. This means overcrowding stands at 24 per cent. A total of 614 prisoners are currently sleeping on the floor, including 58 at Haren prison in Brussels. Although the number of floor sleepers has fallen slightly in recent weeks, the prison administration says this drop is seasonal and linked to the Christmas period. It does not see it as a real improvement.
Trade unions warn that overcrowding threatens safety, human dignity and working conditions. They say staff have been under growing pressure since the Covid crisis and feel ignored by politicians.
In Antwerp, union members have even released a protest song, made with AI, to draw attention to the crisis. Unions in Hasselt prison on Wednesday also announced possible strike action in early January, unless meaningful talks take place.
Dinant prison © BELGA PHOTO JULIEN WARNAND