According to one detainee we contacted, individual cells are absolutely not designed to accommodate two detainees. Even less for our interlocutor who suffers from mobility problems. “I have a medical certificate which states that I cannot live with another inmate and despite everything, it is imposed on me“, regrets Hakim, assumed name. “I move around on crutches and I find myself with someone, our rights are clearly violated by ignoring medical certificates. We have a tiny window, a second wardrobe was added to accommodate my fellow inmate but it’s simply not livable.”
At the start of the week, a new letter from the prison director alerted staff: even more mattresses will have to be installed as part of the current emergency situation. A total of ten mattresses are planned, for the moment. “These mattresses are not linked to the work planned to transform cells into double cells. This is a different situation from that encountered previously. We ask you to show solidarity in these difficult circumstances, while ensuring that the safety of staff is not compromised.” indicates the director in the letter sent to prison officers.
“The situation is extremely difficult for everyone”: despite overcrowding, the capacity of Haren prison will be increased
In the event that the number of prisoners continues to increase, management will take measures to limit the number of prisoners who can participate simultaneously in open house times. “A proposal along these lines has already been explained to the unions. We hope that the measures recently announced by the Minister of Justice and the general management will have a sufficient impact so that these floor mattresses remain limited over time.”he concludes.
The national strike widely followed in prisons: the minimum service often impossible to provide, the police called in for reinforcements
The only possible solution
Contacted, the spokesperson for the prison administration indicates that this measure is the only possible solution in the current context. “National solidarity must be put in place between establishments but when there are too many arrests in Brussels, Haren must be able to take its detainees because we can no longer send them to the provinces”indique Kathleen Van De Vijver.
The situation is ever more problematic, despite the measures announced by Minister Verlinden which are struggling to show their effects on the ground (see below). As of November 25, 574 detainees were sleeping on the floor in Belgium: 329 in Flanders, 229 in Wallonia, 14 in Brussels. A figure which is therefore set to increase.
In Flanders, the most affected prisons are those of Antwerp (69 prisoners sleeping on the floor), and Dendermonde (58). In Wallonia, these are those of Mons (44) and Nivelles (40).