Brussels Midi Police Report Surge in Shootings Linked to Disbanded Neighborhood Units
Police in the Brussels Midi zone attribute increased violence to the dissolution of Koban units, previously instrumental in community policing.
BRUSSELS – The Brussels Midi police zone, which encompasses the municipalities of Anderlecht, Saint-Gilles, and Forest, is experiencing a notable rise in shootings, a trend police officials attribute to the disbandment of specialized neighborhood patrolling units known as Koban.
These units were integral to local policing and community safety until their funding was cut post-COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and 2022 due to budget constraints.
The Koban units, inspired by Japan’s community policing model, were established to address street-level crime and violent offenses in these areas since the early 2000s.
Following their disbandment, police reports indicate a dramatic increase in shooting incidents, which reportedly doubled in 2024 and nearly tripled in 2025, particularly in the districts where Koban teams previously operated.
For instance, Anderlecht recorded 43 shooting incidents from January to mid-March 2024.
The Brussels Midi zone currently lacks specialized crime-fighting units that are present in other sections of Brussels, as emphasized by police officers.
This void in organized policing resources has been linked to a resurgence in drug trafficking activity, resulting in escalated gang conflicts.
Authorities have noted that the removal of community-oriented teams has led to higher drug prices and intensified violence among criminal factions.
As community safety continues to be a pressing concern, police officials have drafted a formal request advocating for the restoration of the neighborhood patrolling teams to better enforce public security.
Such units previously played a crucial role in disrupting drug trafficking routes, which helped lower both drug prices and associated violent incidents.
The rise in violence has raised significant safety concerns and has prompted authorities to reconsider the effectiveness of the current security framework, which operates without dedicated crime-fighting teams.
The situation has reached a critical point, particularly in high-crime areas such as Cureghem in Anderlecht and Porte de Hal in Saint-Gilles, where armed conflicts have become more prevalent since the dissolution of the Koban units.
These units were integral to local policing and community safety until their funding was cut post-COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and 2022 due to budget constraints.
The Koban units, inspired by Japan’s community policing model, were established to address street-level crime and violent offenses in these areas since the early 2000s.
Following their disbandment, police reports indicate a dramatic increase in shooting incidents, which reportedly doubled in 2024 and nearly tripled in 2025, particularly in the districts where Koban teams previously operated.
For instance, Anderlecht recorded 43 shooting incidents from January to mid-March 2024.
The Brussels Midi zone currently lacks specialized crime-fighting units that are present in other sections of Brussels, as emphasized by police officers.
This void in organized policing resources has been linked to a resurgence in drug trafficking activity, resulting in escalated gang conflicts.
Authorities have noted that the removal of community-oriented teams has led to higher drug prices and intensified violence among criminal factions.
As community safety continues to be a pressing concern, police officials have drafted a formal request advocating for the restoration of the neighborhood patrolling teams to better enforce public security.
Such units previously played a crucial role in disrupting drug trafficking routes, which helped lower both drug prices and associated violent incidents.
The rise in violence has raised significant safety concerns and has prompted authorities to reconsider the effectiveness of the current security framework, which operates without dedicated crime-fighting teams.
The situation has reached a critical point, particularly in high-crime areas such as Cureghem in Anderlecht and Porte de Hal in Saint-Gilles, where armed conflicts have become more prevalent since the dissolution of the Koban units.
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