Awareness session on the Law of 15 January 2024

As part of the fight against destabilising crime, including drug trafficking, safe.brussels organised an awareness-raising session on the Law of 15 January 2024. This law, introduced by the Minister of the Interior, Annelies Verlinden, represents a significant step forward for local authorities.

Representatives of the Department of Coordination and Support Brussels (DCA) via the CIEAR (District Information and Expertise Centre) and representatives of the Department for Integrity Assessment for Public Authorities (DEIPP) of the FPS Interior attended to present and explain the framework of this innovative law, which aims to strengthen the resources of local authorities for combating destabilising crime.

At the heart of this legislation is the administrative approach, which gives municipalities greater powers to control and close down establishments involved in criminal activities. A Royal Decree (implementing the aforementioned law), due to be published shortly, will list the economic sectors and activities in which those involved may be subject to an integrity investigation.

Under the responsibility of the Mayor, municipal staff may conduct integrity investigations in collaboration with the local police, CIEAR and DEIPP. This cooperation between different levels of the Belgian government enables a more global response to the phenomenon and strengthens synergies between services.

The results of this investigation will then be used by the College of Mayors and Aldermen to make decisions (e.g. closing a facility), guaranteeing a collective and balanced approach.

Integrity investigations are a new component of the administrative approach stipulated by this law and enable local authorities to strengthen their resources for combating destabilising crime. This tool can be integrated into the local legal corpus through the adoption of local police regulations by the municipal council. Each municipality is therefore free to decide whether or not to participate in this process.

DEIPP is preparing new logistical tools to provide local authorities with a complete arsenal.  

In particular, the centralisation of information, with the forthcoming creation of a central register of integrity investigations. This register will be managed by the FPS Interior (DEIPP) and will enable each municipality to consult the decisions taken by other local authorities in the kingdom based on an integrity survey.

During the meeting, participants had the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the implications of this legislation, and to discuss it with representatives of the Department for Integrity Assessment for Public Authorities (DEIPP) of the FPS Interior, as well as the CIEAR (District Information and Expertise Centre).
This information session provided an opportunity to discuss current developments at federal level, and to initiate a process of exchange with a view to developing an appropriate support offer for the Brussels-Capital Region in terms of administrative approach.

Participants described the meeting as highly instructive and constructive, and perfectly in line with the regional strategy to combat drug trafficking and its impact on public safety. By strengthening collaboration between local authorities, law enforcement agencies and support organisations such as safe.brussels, this initiative aims to create a safer, more resilient environment for all citizens of the Brussels-Capital Region.