OCMW employees in Ghent receive portable emergency button in the wake of the murder of Erik Boone

In Ghent, OCMW staff will receive portable emergency buttons following the murder of Erik Boone. A successful pilot project showed that staff felt safer with the devices. The city plans to roll out these buttons next year, alongside fixed emergency buttons in reception areas. New protocols will ensure staff support after incidents, and training will be provided to assess risks better. The city has already issued 34 bans this year for aggressive behavior, primarily verbal abuse. Opposition parties express concern over the timing of these measures amid rising aggression cases.