More incidents of aggression against Brussels refuse collectors
There has been a big increase in the number of acts of aggression against staff of the Brussels regional refuse collection and cleansing agency Net Brussel. Last year the number of incidents of aggression against Net Brussel's staff rose to 157. This compares with 122 such incidents in 2022.
The figures were given by the Brussels regional environment minister Alain Maron (Franophone green) in response to a question from the Francophone liberal regional MP David Weytsman.
Most of the incidents involved verbal abuse and threats. However, there were also some 30 cases involving physical violence. Mr Maron says that Net Brussel always asks its employees to file a complaint and report all incidents of aggression whatever their nature.
Most of the incidents took place at Net Brussel’s recycling parks or on the streets. No fewer than 38 acts of aggression took place at the Vorst recycling park in the south of the city. Meanwhile, Schaarbeek was the municipality with the most cases (17 in total) of on-street aggression against Net Brussel staff.
Mr Weytsman says that during the past 5 or 6 years the number on incidents of aggression against public service employees in general has been on the rise. The Francophone liberal believes there should be zero tolerance policy towards violence and better victim support. In addition to this, ways must also be found to restore the public's respect for public services and those that work for them.