MPs Marc Goergen from the Pirate Party has always been stunned by the idea of having private security companies be present in public spaces, calling it "a situation that violates the rule of law". The MP questioned which direction the country would be taking if private patrols are on the streets on behalf of companies. Goergen wondered if this meant that private individuals, or even "stalkers and right-wing extremists", will soon also be able to call on these people and use this kind of service.
The Pirate Party is of the opinion that only the police can and should guarantee security in the public space.
MPs Lydie Polfer from the Democratic Party (DP) and Laurent Mosar from the Christian Social People's Party (CSV), both members of the capital's municipal council, replied that while no one denied that the police are the guarantors of security, they are simply not always able to do so everywhere, at least not in the area around the railway station in Luxembourg City.
The contracts with private companies have been signed in order to reinforce security in that area as well as in Bonnevoie, a decision that both MPs strongly defended. Mosar explained that the problem has existed for years and that the government has not yet invested the necessary means to find a long-term solution.
Speaking for the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (adr), MP Fernand Kartheiser called for more resources for the police. MP Marc Baum from the Leftist Party (Déi Lénk) commented however that the current discussions have developed "completely out of proportion" to the actual issue. Baum stressed that "Luxembourg is not comparable to the Bronx", but that there are indeed punctual problems linked to "real" criminality and that, in the eyes of his party, those reponsible are the police.
Kox showed a more differentiated opinion than at the end of last year, when he had shown his dissatisfaction with private patrols. He explained that a lot of work still needs to be done regarding police reform, announcing that a massive recruitment of personnel is underway.
On Friday, together with the heads of the General Police Inspectorate, the Minister will present the results of a study on the effectiveness of surveillance cameras in the public space.
