Step up security at Belgian courts

A man shot dead a female judge and a clerk at a court in Brussels on Thursday, reigniting the debate about security at law courts. There needs to be more security at courts, the daily De Morgen demands: "The judiciary is the only guarantee for the protection of all of us and therefore needs extra protection if it is to continue to fulfil its task in complete independence and with true authority. An attack on a judge is an attack on all of us, on one of the foundations on which our society rests. ... There is however a structural security problem in our law courts. The solution is not to post a policeman next to every official. ... But more centralised courts and a few security officers at entrances is feasible and affordable. This type of investment is also justified even at times when holes in the budget need to be filled."

» full article (external link, Dutch)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Belgium
All available articles from » Yves Desmet

» To the complete press review of Friday, June 4, 2010