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2010
39

Insecurity and the feeling of insecurity in Brussels

Press release

Notes de la rédaction

This is the press release related to the article from Christophe Mincke, published June the 28th, 2010. Read the article.

en

In the political and media debate on security in Brussels, one sometimes prefers – in the grip of dramatic news items – to confine oneself to imprecations and commonplaces rather than relying on the available data. In the 39th issue of Brussels Studies, Christophe Mincke, doctor of laws and sociologist (FUSL – CES/IRIB), examines some of the figures from the latest security monitor, a survey which has been conducted each year since 1998 by the Ministry of the Interior in order to assess – among a sample of 12,000 Belgians – both the number and the types of offences committed against Belgians, as well as their feeling of insecurity.

Brussels does not seem to be the dangerous place described by some, but rather an entity exposed to the concerns specific to big cities, with some particular weaknesses. The offences which the respondents in the survey declared to be victims of most often were theft, damage to cars, burglary (attempts) and (threats of) violence. Only theft and damage to cars are more frequent in Brussels than in the big cities as a whole (Antwerp, Brussels City, Charleroi, Ghent and Liege). The global situation otherwise appears remarkably stable over time (at least since 2002).

The feeling of insecurity expressed by the inhabitants of Brussels who were interviewed within the framework of the security monitor is also stable. In quantitative terms, it is not a question of psychosis, even if 3% of the population experience a very strong feeling of insecurity. Furthermore, everything leads one to believe that this situation is closely linked to the degradation of the living environment of a significant number of the inhabitants of Brussels, and less so to a feeling of being exposed to a high risk of falling victim to an offence. Therefore, what the inhabitants of Brussels declare to be problematic in their neighbourhood is essentially related to problems such as the degradation of public spaces and issues concerning road traffic, and less so to non violent criminality involving theft (burglaries and theft of objects in cars).

This overview is an occasion to encourage an examination of the existing instruments which provide information about the situation in Brussels, as well as the development of tools which are better adapted to Brussels. Indeed, how is it possible that, instead of telling us about the offences committed in the territory of the city-region, the security monitor tells us only about those committed against the inhabitants of Brussels, regardless of where they occurred? Data regarding the precise location of the offences have been gathered, but they are not used. The author therefore urges the elaboration of precise and detailed instruments for the analysis of the realities in Brussels.

References
Mincke, Christophe,Insecurity and the feeling of insecurity in Brussels”, Brussels Studies [Online], General collection, No 39, 28 June 2010. URL: https://journals.openedition.org/brussels/776
Contact
Benjamin Wayens, Senior Editor: bwayens[at]brusselsstudies.be

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