Arson of a prison officer’s vehicle in Heers: “It’s unacceptable”

To avoid such attacks in the future, the VSOA believes that certain solutions are possible. “We have long called for the abolition of the inscription of the agents’ names on their clothing. If the detainees know the names, it is easy to trace the agents in their private lives,” explained Mr. De Smedt.

The liberal union also pleads for zero tolerance. “Assaults inside prisons should be punished more severely. The attack on people who are just doing their job is unacceptable, as is the attack on the family of a prison officer,” added the trade unionist. The latter also points to prison overcrowding, which has been denounced for a long time. “This too often leads to attacks,” concluded Mr. De Smedt.

The united front unions announced on Thursday a new staff strike in the prisons of Brussels and Flanders from December 5 to 6. The objective of this action is to denounce the escalation of attacks by prisoners and prison overcrowding, considered one of the causes of this increased violence.