samenvatting |
The Belgian approach of crime and disorder came about through different state reforms. The reform of 1988 was the most important one. This article analyses the impact of these different state reforms on the (federal) disorder Act, the Act on Administrative Communal Sanctions (1999). A reconstruction of 27 years of security policy was made based on an extensive empirical research design with 72 in-depth in- terviews and 432 documents. The federal competences of the Minister of Interior were narrowed down to security ‘senso stricto’ (law enforcement and repression), while regional competences led to the de- velopment of a communal policy of care, welfare, durable living conditions and community work. Due to exceeding competences and at federal and at regional level, a broad disorder approach was imple- mented in municipalities, combining and community work and law enforcement (‘senso lato’). One of the main triggers was the ongoing federal belief in prevention (prevention contracts with cities) and the financial investments of the Flemish Social Impuls Fund (SIF). |