Belgian police begin border patrols

Federal police have begun patrols in border areas in order to combat illegal immigration and human trafficking. The first patrols took place in Limburg province this week in the presence of home affairs minister Jan Jambon. 

Police have set up checkpoints to examine lorries and vans at random for any suspicious activity. According to Michael Jonniaux, director of the federal traffic police, the patrols will become a regular feature in eastern parts of the country on routes used by human traffickers.

“The two goals of these checks are the fight against human trafficking and a better registration of refugees,” he said. Personnel from the Office for Foreigners will also take part in the checkpoints. The Limburg patrol took place this week on the E314 on the border between Maasmechelen and Nieuwdorp in the Netherlands.

The checkpoints are not in breach of the Schengen open-border accords, Jambon confirmed. “We will not be carrying out border controls the way it used to be done. What we will be doing is carrying out targeted police actions.”

Police in West Flanders, meanwhile, said they had arrested two suspected human traffickers last week on the E40 during a patrol of the parking facilities at Jabbeke and Mannekensvere. The suspects, both Albanian nationals in their 20s, were cruising past lorries in a car and eventually attempted to break into one. The practice is carried out by human traffickers in need of a lorry. They were arrested after a short chase.

Justice minister Koen Geens was on the scene in West Flanders. “I saw today with my own eyes how professional, integrated and efficient actions are carried out, and I thought it was important to be present,” he said. “Fighting human trafficking is more important now than ever before.”

In related news, a proposal made by Antwerp mayor and N-VA president Bart De Wever to amend the Geneva Convention on refugees from armed conflict to take account of the new situation is “unrealistic,” according to deputy prime minister Kris Peeters. De Wever made the call during a lecture given to mark the opening of the new academic year at Ghent University.

Photo: Interior affairs minister Jam Jambon on the scene of lorry checkpoints in Limburg

©Anthony Dehez/BELGA