The City of Brussels wants to sanction beggars accompanied by minors under the age of sixteen. On Monday evening, the municipal council will adopt the regulations on child begging. In case of violation, the municipality can impose an administrative fine of up to 350 euros.
From now on, every policeman in Brussels will be obliged, on first contact with a beggar accompanied by a minor under the age of 16, to remind that person of the ban, but also of the compulsory education of children between the ages of 5 and 18 for whom he or she is responsible.
Parents will also be reminded of the possibility “to enrol every child between three and eighteen in a city school and have the city pay the full cost of schooling, including lunches for children in primary school.”
These are some of the elements of the regulation on child begging that the City of Brussels wants to have approved at the municipal council on Monday evening.
Recidivism
“The purpose of the regulation is not to punish, but to guide,” they say. “The city is strengthening its street work and prevention activities in order to proactively reach this population group and to make them aware of the importance of a safe and satisfactory living environment for children.”
Although on-the-spot mediation will always be preferred in case of a sanction, a fine can be imposed in case of recidivism within 24 months. A fine will then be 350 euros.
Nieuwstraat
Underage begging is a recurring problem in major city centres. The debate has often been fierce between politicians who are pro- and anti-penalties. Begging has not been banned in the Region since 1993, however it can be regulated by cities and towns. Since 2017, the City of Brussels has been working on a regulation on the subject.
The Herschambrigade, the homeless unit of the police zone Brussels Capital-Elsene, has already carried out 33 interventions in the pedestrian zone and in Nieuwstraat with beggars with children since the beginning of this year. Identity checks were always carried out to make sure that the children were their own. According to police reports, social assistance is “almost systematically refused by beggars.”
For years, a large number of beggars have gathered in Nieuwstraat, the Herschambrigade also notes. “Some nights, up to seventy people stay here alone, often with very young children and on the ground,” the regulations on child beggars state.
Well duh…
Just treat them for what they are, organised crime like in any other big city.
Finally
[deleted]
There’s situations that I find disturbing, like when it’s the child who is begging or when they are clearly school age and not in school. But I also see families with kids outside of school hours and I’m kind of wondering what they’re supposed to do in that case, get a babysitter?
Also I’ve met some people who stayed in shelters and it seems like it can be pretty horrible and dangerous, and that being outside is sometimes preferable for them. I’m having trouble believing that these people are just all too stupid to accept help and that we need the police to beat sense into them 😐
A lot of these kids are also doped up on valium to make them more docile and make them appear weaker and sicker so that more people give money
I thought it was already illegal.
Our homeless shelters are too full to accept everyone, our social workers are overworked and under-staffed, and there are too few substance-abuse counselors to provide much needed guidance to homeless persons. Many homeless grew up in abusive families and require long-term support by psychologists. The list goes on and on and to think otherwise is blind to the reality that they face.
10 comments
The City of Brussels wants to sanction beggars accompanied by minors under the age of sixteen. On Monday evening, the municipal council will adopt the regulations on child begging. In case of violation, the municipality can impose an administrative fine of up to 350 euros.
From now on, every policeman in Brussels will be obliged, on first contact with a beggar accompanied by a minor under the age of 16, to remind that person of the ban, but also of the compulsory education of children between the ages of 5 and 18 for whom he or she is responsible.
Parents will also be reminded of the possibility “to enrol every child between three and eighteen in a city school and have the city pay the full cost of schooling, including lunches for children in primary school.”
These are some of the elements of the regulation on child begging that the City of Brussels wants to have approved at the municipal council on Monday evening.
Recidivism
“The purpose of the regulation is not to punish, but to guide,” they say. “The city is strengthening its street work and prevention activities in order to proactively reach this population group and to make them aware of the importance of a safe and satisfactory living environment for children.”
Although on-the-spot mediation will always be preferred in case of a sanction, a fine can be imposed in case of recidivism within 24 months. A fine will then be 350 euros.
Nieuwstraat
Underage begging is a recurring problem in major city centres. The debate has often been fierce between politicians who are pro- and anti-penalties. Begging has not been banned in the Region since 1993, however it can be regulated by cities and towns. Since 2017, the City of Brussels has been working on a regulation on the subject.
The Herschambrigade, the homeless unit of the police zone Brussels Capital-Elsene, has already carried out 33 interventions in the pedestrian zone and in Nieuwstraat with beggars with children since the beginning of this year. Identity checks were always carried out to make sure that the children were their own. According to police reports, social assistance is “almost systematically refused by beggars.”
For years, a large number of beggars have gathered in Nieuwstraat, the Herschambrigade also notes. “Some nights, up to seventy people stay here alone, often with very young children and on the ground,” the regulations on child beggars state.
Well duh…
Just treat them for what they are, organised crime like in any other big city.
Finally
[deleted]
There’s situations that I find disturbing, like when it’s the child who is begging or when they are clearly school age and not in school. But I also see families with kids outside of school hours and I’m kind of wondering what they’re supposed to do in that case, get a babysitter?
Also I’ve met some people who stayed in shelters and it seems like it can be pretty horrible and dangerous, and that being outside is sometimes preferable for them. I’m having trouble believing that these people are just all too stupid to accept help and that we need the police to beat sense into them 😐
A lot of these kids are also doped up on valium to make them more docile and make them appear weaker and sicker so that more people give money
I thought it was already illegal.
Our homeless shelters are too full to accept everyone, our social workers are overworked and under-staffed, and there are too few substance-abuse counselors to provide much needed guidance to homeless persons. Many homeless grew up in abusive families and require long-term support by psychologists. The list goes on and on and to think otherwise is blind to the reality that they face.
about. fucking. time
Just prohibit begging for all ages.