During the 48h mayoral meeting, Maxime Prévot discussed an important issue this Tuesday morning: public insecurity in his city, Namur. The president of the Engagés listed the measures taken to combat this phenomenon. In particular, he returned to his contested desire to prohibit begging all day with a child.
Maxime Prévot was the political guest of bel RTL this Tuesday morning. The mayor of Namur answered questions from Martin Buxant from the villa Balat in Namur, as part of the 48 hours mayors.
On the issues that concern us and that concern you as mayor, there is that of public security. It is said that in terms of insecurity there is still an increase in the facts. Why?
“Namur has always been a very peaceful city, but today we are faced, as in all other cities in Europe, with the resurgence of small street dealing, of small traffic since from the port of Antwerp drugs are now arriving massively on the European continent. And as the Belgian cities are the closest physically, they are also the first to be impacted. We have therefore stepped up the recruitment of police officers so that there are many more of them.”
What about surveillance cameras?
“Surveillance cameras. We have gone from 250 to 400 camera feeds. We have also mobilized special brigades dedicated to operations that are carried out every week.”
You’re taking matters into your own hands, what?
“Indeed, depending on the available levers. I regret that there are not more offered to the mayor, that there is no refinancing from the federal government. It is one of my battles.”
For that, do you also have the cards in hand?
“Absolutely, it is one of my battles in the current negotiations so that the police zones have the necessary means so that we can engage, that there are reinforcements and that security, which is the first of the freedoms to guarantee to our fellow citizens, is ensured.”
Same story, Maxime Prévot, for beggars. They say there are a lot of them who harass people in Namur…
“Much too much for my taste. So, I had taken a regulation at the time that was contested by the left-wing parties. Which then led to an invalidation by the Council of State. And yet, it is common sense. For example, I had taken a provision prohibiting begging all day with a child. It is not the role of an infant to be half-anesthetized on a sidewalk for hours. However, there, we contested the measure. It was judged that it was abnormal to prohibit it because it was not in itself a disturbance of public order. I regret, but today, begging… Obviously, we have a date with solidarity. The CPAS, moreover, is the organization that receives the increasing allocations. But we must be able to share public space between customers for stores, tourists, students, people in precarious situations. But precariousness does not excuse that one can be aggressive or harassing, even insulting. And there are limits that must be set.”
Watch the full interview:
maxime prévot municipal elections 2024
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