Brussels police get cash boost for EU summits

21 September 2004

BRUSSELS – Brussels police are to be given an extra EUR 18 million to spend largely on securing EU summits, it emerged on Tuesday.

The cash boost has been approved by a series of royal decrees and will be spread around the Brussels forces for the extra cost of policing high-profile EU and other international events.

Around EUR 7 million will be allocated to 19 communes, across six police zones, to help cut crime in the context of summits.

The state will also inject EUR 5 million into the Astrid communication system, which is lined up to replace police radios.

The new system was tried and tested successfully by the police in charge of the Formula 1 event in Francorchamps.

Infrastructure relating to summit security will be given a EUR 3.75 million boost, with a further EUR 1 million being spend on the installation of video cameras to observe the capital’s streets.

Finally, EUR 2.25 million will be poured into the training of new officers.

Subject: Belgian news