Brussels police want 2,900 street cameras by 2018

The Brussels police want to see 2,900 security cameras installed on Brussels streets by 2018. "You can’t put a police agent on every corner," explains commanding officer Johan De Becker in Le Peuple. "There are already test cameras operational in the communes west of Brussels since April."

Exactly 181 new digital cameras will be installed by the end of this year, and all existing cameras will be connected to one common network. Image quality is better than ever, which will aid police in recognising the perpetrators of attacks or other antisocial behaviour. The new cameras will also benefit firefighters and public transport security personnel.

Regarding the protection of privacy, Brussels minister Bianca Debaets was quick to add that although Big Brother is watching you, the purpose of the cameras is to stop criminals.

The investment comes rather late compared to other large cities such as Paris or London, where there are already thousands of street cameras. But it shows that Brussels is making progress, which is necessary for the sake of security, say police officers.