De Lijn Unions Demand More Staff for Aggression Footage
Trade unions at De Lijn, Flanders’ public transport company, are demanding additional personnel to process camera footage of aggression incidents, warning that just three social safety experts handle this workload for the entire region. The demand comes as the company prepares to roll out bodycams for drivers and controllers, which unions say will further strain an already overstretched system.
According to VRT NWS, Carlo Maesen of the Christian union ACV Openbare Diensten said the current staffing level is unsustainable. “When we see that De Lijn registers about 2,000 aggression incidents annually, of which about 300 are physical incidents, then it’s clear this is not a detail but a structural problem,” Maesen said. “Only 3 people who have to handle that for all of Flanders? That’s not realistic.”
The Role of Social Safety Experts
These specialists are responsible for reading camera footage from vehicles when aggression occurs, analyzing the images, creating reports, and transferring cases to police and justice authorities. They also support victims of aggression. Under privacy legislation, only these experts are permitted to view and analyze bodycam footage.
Before a reorganization at De Lijn in 2020, there were six such experts — one per province. The number has since been halved to three, creating what unions describe as a critical capacity gap. One expert based in Limburg is responsible for Antwerp and part of Flemish Brabant, requiring travel between provinces to retrieve footage from vehicle hard drives.
Rising Workload Ahead of Bodycam Rollout
Controllers and drivers at De Lijn will be able to wear bodycams by the end of 2026, following the federal government’s approval of a preliminary draft law in May. The legislation, which also covers NMBS, TEC, MIVB, firefighters, and security guards, was accelerated after a severe incident on the Kusttram in De Haan in May, when five De Lijn staff and two police officers were hospitalized following an attack by four youths without valid tickets.
“Especially now that controllers and drivers will get the chance to wear bodycams by the end of this year, the workload will increase further,” Maesen warned, as reported by VRT NWS.
The concern is echoed by Flemish parliament members. “3 people for all of Flanders who follow up on aggression, support victims, process camera footage and work with police and justice: then it’s not unreasonable to ask whether that capacity still suffices,” said An Christiaens (CD&V). “Safety should not depend on the goodwill and dedication of a few people.”
Sarah T’Joens of Vlaams Belang, who raised the issue in parliament, was equally critical. “Whoever takes the safety of drivers and controllers seriously must ensure that incidents are followed up quickly and that perpetrators actually face consequences,” she said, as noted in a Vlaams Belang statement. “More cameras are of little use when the processing of images and files is delayed afterwards.”
Aggression Figures: A Mixed Picture
In 2025, 2,028 drivers and controllers of De Lijn were victims of aggression — a 12% decrease from the previous year and the lowest number since 2019, according to VRT NWS. Of those incidents, 303 involved physical violence. The company has also invested in safety measures: 87% of buses were equipped with camera surveillance by end of 2025, and 93% had lockable driver cabins.
However, ACV Openbare Diensten has questioned the narrative of declining aggression, citing underreporting and “reporting fatigue” among staff. In a press release, the union argued that many incidents go unreported and that aggression is becoming normalized. The union also noted that reports from subcontractor operators are significantly lower, suggesting gaps in reporting.
The human cost remains significant. In 2024, aggression led to 3,161 days of work incapacity among De Lijn drivers and controllers, according to figures requested by Vlaams Belang parliament member Wim Verheyden. Only 10 of 295 filed complaints in 2024 actually went to court.
Political Tensions Over Resources
The staffing issue adds to existing tensions within the Flemish government over De Lijn’s budget and priorities. The company faces 35.5 million euros in required savings for 2026, which led to week-long rotating strikes in March and political friction between coalition partners. As VRT NWS reported, the Flemish government confirmed the savings target remains, though discussions continue over implementation.
“You can’t say safety is a top priority for the Flemish government and De Lijn when you see there are only 3 employees to serve all of Flanders,” Maesen said. “The workload is unsustainable today, and that way the risks for passengers and staff increase.”
What’s Next
The bodycam legislation is expected to pass through parliament by the end of 2026, with cameras set to activate only when there’s a risk of aggression, featuring a red warning light and verbal notification. Footage would be kept for 30 to 90 days maximum.
Whether De Lijn or the Flemish government will respond to the unions’ demands for additional social safety experts remains an open question. With the bodycam rollout expected to generate significantly more footage to process, the pressure on the three remaining experts — and on the safety of passengers and staff alike — is likely to intensify in the coming months.