Belgium Approves Bodycams for Transit Staff and Firefighters
The Belgian federal government has approved a preliminary draft law that would allow public transport personnel, firefighters, and security guards to wear bodycams, marking a significant expansion of surveillance technology aimed at protecting frontline workers from rising aggression in public spaces.
The Council of Ministers gave its agreement on Friday, May 22, 2026, to a legal framework regulating the use of individual cameras for services that frequently face violence during their duties, Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (MR) announced on Tuesday. The measure covers drivers and staff of all public transport operators — NMBS, De Lijn, TEC, and MIVB/STIB — as well as firefighters and security guards working at events.
Triggered by Violent Incident
The announcement comes just two days after a severe incident on the Kusttram in De Haan on Sunday, May 24, where five De Lijn employees and two police officers were hospitalized following a violent confrontation with fare evaders. According to VRT NWS, four youths without valid tickets attacked controllers at the Vosseslag stop in the evening. One 18-year-old suspect from Ninove was arrested at the scene, while three others fled.
“I’ve worked for De Lijn for 30 years, but I’ve never experienced this,” said Stefaan Dierickx of the ACOD-TBM union. “Seven people to the emergency department — that’s unprecedented in my view.” One employee spent the night in hospital with knee injuries, while another required surgery for a broken nose.
How the Bodycams Will Work
Under the draft law, cameras will only be activated when a risk of aggression or violence arises. Recordings will be stored for a maximum of 30 to 90 days, with strict data protection guarantees in compliance with EU regulations. Each activation will be fully traceable, and access to footage will be tightly controlled.
For firefighters, the legislation includes a special provision for “assistance cameras” that can stream footage in real time during interventions, allowing command posts to guide personnel and monitor safety remotely.
“Those who protect us and serve society must themselves be protected,” Quintin said, as reported by BRUZZ. “The expansion of bodycam use offers an additional tool to clearly establish who is responsible for what during incidents or violence.”
Flemish Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder (N-VA) emphasized the deterrent effect: “They know that everything is on camera. I hope they think twice before committing such acts.”
Federal Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) noted that the use of bodycams had long been a demand from unions and NMBS management. “Many incidents happen when few people are around,” he said. “It’s sometimes difficult to prove.”
Mixed Evidence on Effectiveness
Despite the political momentum, academic research on bodycam effectiveness shows mixed results. Antoinette Verhage, Professor of Criminology at Ghent University, told VRT NWS that studies — particularly from the United States — reveal varying outcomes.
“In some cases the effect is negligible, in other cases an effect is seen. Sometimes that effect is deterrent, in other situations it is escalating,” Verhage said. She stressed that the effectiveness of bodycams depends heavily on proper training, support, and clear protocols about when cameras are activated. “The decision-making margin for when to activate the camera can significantly impact outcomes.”
Next Steps
The draft law will now be submitted to unions for negotiation and to data protection authorities for review before it proceeds to parliamentary debate. Minister Quintin has set a target of passing the law before the end of 2026.
The measure has cross-party support, involving ministers from the MR, N-VA, and Les Engagés parties within Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s federal government. It reflects a broader European trend of deploying bodycams to protect public-facing workers amid rising reports of aggression.
Meanwhile, the manhunt for the three remaining fugitive suspects from the De Haan incident continues. Two of the three were later arrested, according to follow-up reports, with one suspect still at large.
As Belgium moves toward equipping thousands of workers across multiple transport operators and fire services, the coming months will test whether the promise of bodycams — deterrence, evidence, and protection — can withstand the practical challenges of implementation.