Two days after this event, how do the inhabitants of the city of Betchard feel about the situation? “Security… there is nothing left, it’s over in Tubize“, Pedro immediately declares in one of the cafes in the city center. A customer immediately announces: “This is the reason why I left Tubize“.
gullWhen you are parked and exceed the line by 20 cm, the police are there to take the photos and leave. Whereas when we call at 1 p.m. for a broken window, they do their job but don’t arrive until 2 p.m.
Here, everyone has a story about a case of assault. Or even several. And everyone knows the different deal locations and places not to frequent at the risk of being attacked, like in the train station passage. The question also animates the rest of the café. “At certain times, we no longer dare to take certain streets“, announces Olivier. “The police no longer know how to do anything“, continues Yves, who jokes about the situation: “I’m an undertaker. So more deaths means more work“The discussions also return to the work of the police.”When you are parked and exceed the line by 20 cm, they are there to take the photos and leave“, it comes out of several mouths. “Whereas when we call at 1 p.m. for a broken window, they do their job but don’t arrive until 2 p.m.“, Pedro says.
The conversation also turns to the sale of narcotics. “You go to Grand’Place on the weekend in the evening and you come across the ‘flour traders’ and you don’t dare pass“, we hear. Another Olivier wants to be more optimistic about the future situation, now that the municipal majority has changed. “It will change but they (the delinquents) will react. Some people will f*** the d*** to win. It will change but it will take at least a year to see the difference“. Concerning the reaction of the police, he also notes a form of “double standards” depending on who is controlled. He sees, like the others, a certain fear of the police in the face of certain problems.
Bookstore robbed “several times”
To conclude, Laurent addresses the case of certain businesses. “There was a bookstore right around the corner from the train station. It was robbed several times and has since closed. But you can still see the bars installed in the window“.
In the shops, what is the climate like? In one of them, we are told that he had been robbed once and robbed a second time. To the point that the saleswoman was kidnapped by the robber. “But he has since been arrested and is in prison. The police did their job and now we have secured our entrance“. In fact, the door is locked and can only be opened from the inside, whereas signage only authorizes entry under certain conditions.
“I don’t want fear to change sides“
The mayor returns to the ambush affair in the Saint-Jean district. “Over the past 48 hours, my position has become radicalized. On security, it will be 0 tolerance“, he insists, not without a touch of anger after this rowdy night. He is surprised to know that this situation is known as “a custom“, which has been taking place for 10 years, without anything being done.”Hence the desire to strengthen campaigns against drugs and violence, which often go hand in hand. Then, the discussion is over! We are going for repression because for Tubiz residents, we fear this insecurity“. Priority is now given to these points, in addition to placing as many surveillance cameras as possible in public spaces.
gullOver the last 48 hours my position has become radicalized. End of discussion! We are going for repression because for the people of Tubiz, we fear this insecurity.
Samuel D’Orazio also recognizes the impact of the different bands “which prevent the development of our community“, while adding: “I don’t want fear to change sides“, suggesting that it is the delinquents who must fear the police and not the other way around. For this, he announces that he will make security the number one priority,”because everything flows from there“.
