2023-12-30 16:17:00
The different services involved, whether the six police zones, the federal police or even Siamu (Fire and emergency medical aid service of the Brussels-Capital Region), will be represented there by liaison officers. It will be the head of the Brussels-Ixelles police, Michel Goovaerts, who will direct the operations. The police zone does not specify the numbers that will be deployed but its spokesperson emphasizes it: “There will be a visible presence on the ground, particularly in places where there are a lot of people”.
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Traditionally, there are many revelers at the stroke of midnight on the Grand’ Place in Brussels. The traditional fireworks display will be fired this year from Place des Palais, which also attracts crowds. Last year, there were 50,000. In order to avoid any problems, the possession of glass bottles will be prohibited on the Place des Palais, the Parc de Bruxelles and the Grand’ Place.
Due to the fireworks, a series of arteries will be closed to traffic. The Brussels-Ixelles police zone insists: it strongly advises once morest going to the city center by car, especially as public transport has increased its speed during the night. The police will communicate on their X account the closed arteries.
Fireworks and firecrackers prohibited
In recent years, police and emergency services have been more regularly targeted by firecrackers and fireworks. This led the Region to issue an order prohibiting the possession, transport and use of firecrackers or other fireworks until January 3.
“Any fireworks will be seized: it’s as simple as that,” warns Ilse Van de Keere, spokesperson for the Brussels-Ixelles zone. And remember that fines can go up to 1,600 euros and sentences of up to 14 days in prison.
Last year, emergency services were targeted with fireworks while trying to revive a person who had fallen from a 5th floor balcony. “Our men and women don’t understand. They come to the aid of the population,” laments Walter Derieuw, spokesperson for Siamu.
He expects a “rough night”. Some old pumpers, now belonging to the reserve, will also be put into service. These fire trucks will likely be deployed first to areas where there is unrest. “But they are 100% operational,” assures Mr. Derieuw.
Siamu expects a “rough night”.
Last year, more than a hundred interventions also involved burning trees, vehicles, pallets and other waste containers. This New Year’s Eve is indeed a particularly busy night for Siamu. The fire services generally intervene on 200 occasions whereas, for a traditional weekend night, the figure generally does not exceed 60, estimates Mr. Derieuw. The workload of ambulance drivers is double.
In order to avoid any problems following a projectile has been thrown into the windows, Siamu vehicles are now equipped with a plastic strip, fixed to the windows, to avoid shrapnel injuries to the occupants. This measure, now applied all year round, was taken following incidents on New Year’s Eve.
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Siamu can also call the police if it considers that the intervention might pose a risk to staff. “This is a decision taken on a case-by-case basis,” explains Mr. Derieuw. Coordination is all the easier as all the services are located at the crisis center, says Ms. Van de Keere, who underlines that in the event of disturbances, the coordinated reaction of the different police services is very rapid because the liaison officers are present at the Regional Crisis Center.
“At the same time, our basic missions and patrols continue,” says Ms. Van de Keere. Local research continues its investigations and help for victims is thus still assured.
Last year, there were 690 police interventions, including 172 interventions in support of Siamu. The police services made 160 arrests: 139 administrative and 21 judicial, less than the 200 arrests during New Year’s Eve 2019. The comparison with 2020 and 2021, marked by confinements, was not relevant.
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