The bill was submitted at the request of the city of Ghent, but its implications are national.
The city of Ghent is taking a new step in the fight against bicycle theft. From the beginning of 2024, the Ghent police will be given the green light to use a decoy bicycle. This project, which has been on the city council's agenda for almost a decade, has until now had to be shelved due to legal obstacles. The arrival of new legislation now paves the way for the implementation of this system, which has already proven its efficiency in the Netherlands.
Last year, no fewer than 3.200 cases of bicycle theft were reported in Ghent, equivalent to nine thefts per day. However, experts suggest the actual number is much higher. The problem is no longer limited to the area around stations; it has spread throughout the city. Although the decoy bicycle will not be the panacea to completely stop this epidemic, it does significantly increase the chance of catching thieves, according to Mayor Mathias De Clercq of Open VLD.
The decoy bike resembles a normal bicycle but is equipped with a GPS tracker. If the bicycle is stolen, a report is automatically sent to the police, who can trace the bicycle and possibly arrest the thief. However, this method, which has already been successfully applied in the Netherlands, has faced technical and legal obstacles in Belgium.
For the residents of Ghent, many of whom have already been victims of bicycle theft at least once, this change comes as a relief. But the city council and the police are careful not to create false hopes. The decoy bike will be an important tool in the police toolbox, but it will not completely stop the wave of bicycle thefts in the city.
The Ghent police were only allowed to use the decoy bicycle for investigations into organized crime, which significantly hindered its practical application.
The new bill, which will be approved at the end of this year or early 2024, removes this obstacle and makes the decoy bicycle accessible for daily use by the police. The impact of this legislative change extends beyond Ghent; Decoy bicycles parked in Brussels will also be able to be put into use again.
However, the decoy bicycle will not solve all problems. While the GPS tracker can lead police to the new location of the stolen bicycle, identifying the thief, especially in an urban environment with many apartments, remains a challenge. Quick action also remains crucial, as stolen bicycles can quickly change owners.
The exact numbers and appearance of the decoy bicycles remain a closely guarded secret for obvious reasons. Both the city and the police emphasize that it remains important to properly lock bicycles, register them and report any theft.
