Rise in Brussels public transport arrests

The number of people arrested on Brussels public transport increased over the past year, reports Flanders News. As many people were detained on the network in the first seven months of 2012 as in the whole of 2011. The figures were released by transport company STIB, which analysed the impact of measures taken after a fatal attack on a bus inspector last April. In total, 432 suspected thieves, 761 suspected illegal residents and 245 suspected fences and drug dealers were detained. Interior minister Joëlle Milquet believes she has honoured the commitments she made at the time of the attack on the STIB bus inspector and says the consultation model involving the federal and local police, STIB and the Brussels Region can be exported to other cities.