Mayors Nicolas Van der Maren (Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve) and Benoît Raucent (Wavre) have announced their intention to merge their police zones, emphasizing that the primary objective is to provide better service to residents, while also hoping for economies of scale. This merger, described as 'obvious' by Governor Gilles Mahieu, will be the first in Brabant Wallon and potentially in Wallonia since the new legislation.
Despite no legal obligation to consult municipal councils, the mayors decided to hold an information session for transparency, believing the project transcends current political majorities. The two zones, each with approximately 120 officers and bordering territories, share demographic similarities (32,000 inhabitants for OLLN, 35,000 for Wavre) and complementary equipment, such as surveillance cameras and drones in Wavre, and a CAO Support Unit and bodycams in OLLN.
A SWOT analysis concluded it was a strategic opportunity. The merger would notably allow for the addition of a fifth patrol on the ground without hiring additional personnel, as each zone currently has only two patrols operating 24/7. This would strengthen their capacity to manage large events and maintain non-direct services like victim support. Material pooling and the creation of a single Zonal Security Plan are also anticipated, along with potentially greater federal funding for larger zones.
The mayors assured they are not aiming for a 'super zone disconnected from citizens,' recalling that the new law strengthens the proximity requirement with one neighborhood inspector per 2,000 inhabitants. Police officers will be supported through this transition, which is not expected to significantly alter their daily routines. The current premises, described as being in 'lamentable condition,' seem to be a greater concern for the staff than the merger itself.
The merger process includes sending a signal to the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Justice, followed by a first Royal Decree. The practical organization, including inventory and resource allocation, will take place over a year, with a possible six-month extension. A second Decree will definitively establish the zone, slated for launch in January 2028. Further decrees will address naming and union representation. The name for the future zone is still under discussion, with a suggestion to use the Dyle river, which connects the two towns.
