The Minister for Home Affairs was asked to address a recent letter sent to him by Prosecutor General Martine Solovieff, expressing concerns about the allocation of Criminal Police resources towards enforcing the begging ban. Solovieff highlighted the strain this enforcement placed on officers, diverting their attention from other pending cases. Responding to this critique, Gloden characterised the Prosecutor General’s letter as “a cry for help,” and proof that “previous governments have done nothing” to address the situation.
Gloden elaborated on the genesis of the enforcement measures, describing them as a comprehensive response to calls for assistance from municipal authorities and local residents in the Gare neighbourhood. This “special police operation” encompasses not only the enforcement of the ban on “aggressive and organised” begging but also broader efforts to combat drug-related crimes, pimping, illegal immigration, and to “restore public health.”
The Minister for Home Affairs pointed out that François Bausch, the former Green Party Minister for Mobility, “tabled a bill at the time to introduce video surveillance in public spaces and on public transport to keep people from sleeping on benches in the evening.” In light of these considerations, Gloden suggested that “certain politicians” from the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) and Green Party “should calm down a bit.”
Acknowledging a “mistake” in operational deployment, Gloden conceded that the involvement of officials from the Economic and Financial Crime Unit of the Criminal Police in the field was unnecessary. This revelation surfaced during a meeting of the “Accompanying Committee” last Thursday, where Police Director Philippe Schrantz informed Gloden of the situation. Prompted by this disclosure, Gloden directed the withdrawal of these officers from field operations.
Addressing concerns raised by Prosecutor General Martine Solovieff in her letter, Gloden clarified that the 1,291 cases referenced did not emerge solely since the end of January but had accrued over a more extended period. Nonetheless, he concurred with Solovieff’s assessment of staffing shortages within the force.
In response, Gloden has taken steps to bolster recruitment efforts, increasing the upcoming wave of recruitments from 160 to 200 police candidates. Furthermore, he emphasised the need for precision in recruitment advertisements, specifying criteria for candidates with particular skill sets to match specific operational requirements.
For instance, if ten officers are sought for the anti-money laundering section, recruitment advertisements will explicitly outline the desired qualifications, enabling candidates with the appropriate expertise to apply accordingly.
In the first five weeks of implementation of the begging ban in Luxembourg, 438 people were inspected and only two cases gave rise to legal proceedings, the Prosecutor General had also criticised in her letter.
Léon Gloden addressed these remarks, pointing out that enforcement measures extended beyond the begging ban, with 61 expulsions from public spaces (Platzverweis) and penalties issued for offences such as illegal gambling, illegal immigration, and organised begging. “This also shows that only organised begging is targeted,” according to Gloden.
-> Fact Check: Is the act of simple begging prohibited by Luxembourg’s criminal law?
Looking ahead, Léon Gloden said that Minister of Justice Elisabeth Margue will oversee efforts to address legal ambiguities, streamline the Criminal Code by removing “archaic” offences, and provide clarity on the begging ban.
Meanwhile, Gloden stated that he himself is in the process of formulating a legal framework for police regulations, aligning with the evolving landscape shaped by the implementation of the new Constitution.
