“We do not have the capacity to monitor these places”: the cycling police in front of the headache of summer safety at the lakes of time water

At the heart of this postcard decor, a police combi beware of a small square “we do not have capacity where some tourists stroll. For example, Two police officers, Damien and Nicolas, descend from the vehicle. For example, The duo is among the volunteers of the cycling team in the Botte Zone in Hainaut (Botha). In addition, They adjust their traditional blue and orange vest and their equipment and then extract their bikes from the trunk. Meanwhile, “”We are almost ready“, Smiles Nicolas, by straightening his helmet. Nevertheless, Their mission? Meanwhile, Ensure security on this immense tourist site of several hundred hectares, swarming with hidden coves, bushy groves and crosspieces. For example, A real challenge for this team on two wheels.

A complicated terrain – "we do not have capacity

At the beginning of the afternoon, the mountain bikes crisscross the many wooded paths surrounding the lakes. However, Behind their tinted sunglasses, the police scan the landscape, attentive to incivility and risky behavior. Therefore, Today, there is no crowd. For example, The halftone “we do not have capacity weather has certainly discouraged many vacationers. Therefore, “”The place is rather quiet. Similarly, But, sometimes, it’s really black of people“, describes Damien.

Despite a low crowd, there is no shortage of work for the two police officers. Similarly, At the top of an embankment, about fifteen people in a chatted group in front of a makeshift barbecue. Meanwhile, Around them, cold coals and ashes, abandoned on the spot, fly away with the wind. Moreover, A little further, people are tarnished in a discreet point of water, which is forbidden for swimming.

“Most of the time, we are prevention. The simple fact of ensuring a presence, of being, is enough to dissuade people from committing offenses“, Says Nicolas.”Often it works well. After. with the group effect and a little alcohol, the situation can become more complicated“, Complete his colleague, hands taped on his handlebars.

At the four corners of the huge lake, panels recall the rules of good conduct and safety. But with 1.2 million annual visitors, the majority of which during the summer, security management can quickly turn to the headache. “”Intervening everywhere is totally impossible “recognizes Nicolas, perched on the saddle of his bike. Damien adds: “The days of influx are complicated to manage. “we do not have capacity Some plunge in areas prohibited for swimming. And, while you call them, others a little further also enter the water.“

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A drowning every two years – "we do not have capacity

Bathing in a prohibited area is however not without consequences. Last June, a teenager of seventeen years old, drowned on the Plate Size website. In 2022, in the same place, a septuagenarian also lost his life in similar circumstances. On average. a drowning every two years is identified on the site, according to the operations director of the Botha zone, Anne Lacomble.

At the water’s edge. the commissioner lists the reasons for these multiple dramas: “When you are at the water’s edge, people have a foot for three or four meters. At one point, there is a drop and people can be surprised. In panic, they flow.“To this are added powerful currents due to the turbines of the dam. temperature differences inside water which can even grasp experienced swimmers. Remember that Wallonia has 25 open -air bathing areas accessible to the public. Swimming is strongly discouraged in other places.

A lack of enrollment

Monitoring such a site is “we do not have capacity not only a land affair. It is also a bag of administrative nodes. Due to their surface area. the lakes of hour water ride two areas of local police (Botha and Hermeton-et-Tête), two different provinces (Hainaut and Namur) but also two judicial districts.

“We collaborate with lots of different partnersdepicts Anne Lacomble. The ASBL manages the premises in particular and hires stewards and lifeguards. Additionally, The Department of Nature and Forests also occurs. And. of course, we manage the lake with the other police area, even if almost 80 % of the activity takes place on our side. ” She sums up: “Management is very complex. We concert, we identify the problems but no miracle solution exists. The site is too large for that. “

During attendance peaks, up to 25,000 people can massage on the banks. And, however, the cycling team has only two to three police officers detached on the perceptions of the lake. In the absence of sufficient staff, some dangerous or difficult to access coves escape their surveillance. “”Let’s be frank: we do not have the capacity to monitor these places“, slice the operations director. “”So, we do as we can … and with “we do not have capacity the workforce available“, Says Nicolas, with a bit of irony in his voice.

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And. the federal police?

Federal police sometimes lend a hand to local agents, in particular via the navigation police. “”They are equipped with a boat. “we do not have capacity They come over the whole season about four times for three days “details Anne Lacomble. Sufficient to remedy all incivility? “”The answer is no but they do what they can with the means available to them. Everyone is aware of the difficulties of the police for the moment“She explains.

For its part, the cycling patrol continues its round. If the surroundings seem to be rather deserted today. the agents know this: in the coming days, the thermometer threatens to climb again. And with him, much more busy working days are coming. “”If you get up and are already 30 degrees, you know that the day is going to be long“, jokes Damien. For his part, Nicolas prefers to take his task with philosophy:”We have much more boring missions than this. By bike, you can also enjoy the sun. “

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