The Federal Council of Ministers has approved a preliminary draft bill allowing the use of bodycams for services that face violence while carrying out their duties, including firefighters, security guards at events, and drivers and staff of public transport companies such as NMBS / SNCB in Belgium, De Lijn in Flanders, TEC in Wallonia and MIVB / STIB in the Brussels-Capital Region.
Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (MR) stated that aggression in public spaces has increased in recent years and that those who protect society must themselves be protected. He added that the expansion of bodycam use provides an additional tool to clearly establish who is responsible for what in the event of incidents or violence, and that the footage will be crucial in proving how events unfolded.
Rising aggression prompts action
The cameras will be activated only when there is a risk of aggression or violence against individuals. The legislation includes safeguards for the protection of personal data in accordance with European regulations, and footage will be stored for 30 to 90 days. For firefighters, the draft also provides for assistance cameras to guide personnel in real time during operations and ensure their safety and that of third parties.
Federal Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) said safety on public transport is one of their priorities and a necessary condition for guaranteeing everyone a peaceful and safe journey. He noted that many incidents occur when few people are around, making them difficult to prove, which is why NMBS / SNCB management and unions have long requested bodycams.
The proposal follows a recent incident on Sunday evening in which four De Lijn controllers and a driver were injured during a ticket inspection on the coastal tram in De Haan (Le Coq) on the Belgian Coast. When staff tried to stop a group of four youths without valid tickets from running away, the situation escalated into a brawl. One of the youths was arrested by police, and two officers were also injured.
Flemish Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder (N-VA) condemned the incident, stating that the images were shocking and that what took place was not youthful mischief but despicable and criminal behaviour. She advocated for the use of bodycams by De Lijn staff and highlighted their deterrent effect, saying she hopes that knowing everything is on camera will make people think twice before committing such acts. She added that public transport must be punctual and clean, but also safe for both passengers and staff.
NMBS / SNCB chief executive Sophie Dutordoir has long advocated for bodycams, as train personnel frequently face insults, threats, or even physical assault. The number of incidents has exceeded 2,000 per year, causing not only delays but also thousands of hours of lost work time.
Legal objections and privacy concerns, particularly from the Data Protection Authority (GBA / APD) had previously blocked the introduction of bodycams. The new draft addresses these issues with strict conditions on activation and data protection.
Under the proposed rules, bodycams may only be activated when aggression is present or there is a risk of it occurring, not during normal interactions. Those being filmed must be notified, and a red light will indicate when recording is in progress. Footage will be stored for a maximum of 90 days and may only be viewed by authorised personnel. Police already use bodycams under existing legislation.
The measure covers train conductors and drivers, Securail staff, De Lijn controllers and drivers, firefighters, municipal controllers, and private security agents deployed at events such as the Ghent Festivities (Gentse Feesten), Werchter or Pukkelpop. A separate legal framework for the private security sector in general and for paramedics will follow later.
Antoinette Verhage, professor of criminology at University of Ghent, noted that research in the United States shows mixed results on the effectiveness of bodycams. In some cases the effect is negligible, while in others it can be de-escalating or escalating.
She emphasised that training and support for those wearing the cameras are crucial, as is clear guidance on when to activate them to ensure proper interpretation of the footage. She added that the decision margin on when to activate the cameras can significantly impact their effectiveness.
The draft law will now be submitted to the trade unions for negotiation and to the data protection authorities for review. Minister Quintin expressed hope that parliament will vote on it before the end of the year, with the aim of having everything finalised by then.
How will this work in practice?
While privacy concerns are real, genuine and understandable, deciding when to turn on the bodycam is not an easy or simple decision. Having to announce “now I’m turning on my camera” sounds like an incentive for more aggression, not less.
So is will this improve safety? Not sure.
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