Charleroi is innovating by extending the missions of security agents, traditionally confined to private places, to public roads within the framework of Vigilis zones. A pilot project will test this new approach to urban security in several districts of the city.
Usually, security guards operate in private spaces such as shopping malls, supermarkets, or nightclubs.
Some of these agents, already on duty to secure the Rive Gauche shopping centre, will soon be called upon to provide external surveillance, particularly in public squares and around the university campus.
Their mission will be to quickly report to the police any illicit behavior observed, without however replacing the police.
Julie Patte, acting mayor of Charleroi, explains: “They are not replacements for the police, but they contribute to security by exchanging information and alerting the relevant authorities.“
Vigilis zones: a new approach to urban security
The project is based on the creation of Vigilis zones, where security officers will be able to carry out their duties outside buildings. This initiative is made possible by the legal provisions in force, which allow such deployments in specific areas.
These areas have had drug problems in the past, and the increased presence of security officers could help deter such behavior.
Laurent Van Doren, head of the Charleroi police force, explains that officers will be able to intervene in a variety of situations: “This could be someone wanting to consume drugs, a homeless person seeking shelter in a building, or a student who is intoxicated..”
Concerns on the union side
However, this project raises concerns among police unions. Thierry Belin, president of the independent union SNPS, is worried about the risks linked to the extension of the missions of security officers: “This presents a danger because the officers have absolutely no judicial prerogative and therefore they cannot intervene as police officers who are not.“.
According to him, these agents have no judicial prerogatives and cannot intervene like police officers.It is a decoy to make people believe that we are going to create security with these agents who will inevitably have to call the police to actually see if there is anything to see.“
Belin also points out that this increased use of security agents could be a response to the lack of police officers in the city, estimated at between 100 and 150 officers. He calls for increasing police numbers to effectively meet public security needs.
The city of Charleroi, which recently voted on this project, promises regular evaluations to adjust the system based on the results obtained.
Charleroi police company
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