Brussels police begin stricter terrace patrol

For the second summer in a row, Brussels police are maintaining a strong presence in the city centre. By patrolling the major nightlife hotspots, the police aim to combat noise nuisance in the ‘pentagon’ area, or city centre. Last year, the police handed out 65 fines for noise nuisance in the pentagon area.

The arrival of summer in Brussels often brings with it busier – and noisier – café terraces. "The expansion of the pedestrian zone and the renewed urban layout were intended to give Brussels a new framework for city life, one that’s cosier and quieter. That's why it's so important to tackle these problems now,” explained Brussels mayor Yvan Mayeur on brusselnieuws.be.

The special terrace patrol will be in place every Thursday, Friday and Saturday through late September, with police looking out for excessively loud music, or customers shouting or talking too loudly. In case of repeated violations, the police are permitted to close businesses temporarily.

The mayor stressed the importance of police presence on Brussels streets. "It creates a real dialogue with the owners of the bars, who understand the importance of keeping the public peace in a cosmopolitan city,” Mayeur told brusselnieuws.be. “The agents also have direct contact with customers, which has a preventive effect and can greatly reduce noise nuisance.”