Roller brigade already numbers fourteen police officers

BRUSSELS Following the example of Paris, the Brussels police force has deployed officers on wheels in the capital since 2002. During the weekend, they patrol the car-free Ter Kamerenbos, and from June 3, they also escort the Roller Parades that glide through avenues and tunnels every Friday evening. In addition, they are also present at some events and neighborhood parties. Sabrina Plas (31, from Liedekerke) is a police officer in the second division at the Kolenmarkt in the heart of Brussels. She usually patrols by car, but especially during the summer months, she puts on her rollerblades two days a week. We met her in the Ter Kamerenbos, where hundreds of rollers gathered last weekend for a special roller day. How do the rights and obligations of rollers in the city actually work? Sabrina Plas: “Until the age of 16, children may only use rollers on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, they may ride on the bike path. If there is no bike path and no sidewalk, they are forbidden to skate. From the age of 16, skaters must ride on the bike path. If there is no bike path, rollers may ride on the street or on the sidewalk. Provided that the maximum allowed speed does not exceed 50. Outside built-up areas, skaters may also ride on roads where the maximum allowed speed is higher, but only when there is no sidewalk or usable verge. In addition, roller skaters must be equipped with a light at the front and a red light at the back on the bike path when it is dark. When riding on the street in the dark, they must wear a fluorescent jacket. With roller skates on your feet, you are not allowed on the metro or bus, so commuters must put on normal shoes for public transport.” Do rollers know the regulations? “The group that goes for a ride in the city every Friday evening certainly does. They also wear fluorescent jackets. But often we have to remind parents that children should wear a helmet for their safety. Police officers also always wear protective gear.” Does the capital need police skaters? “The capital urgently needed something new, and roller skaters are well-received by people. They find us quite 'cool', and we are quickly on the scene everywhere. Patrolling in the city center is difficult because of the cobblestones. The Ter Kamerenbos, on the other hand, is an ideal terrain, especially because it is closed to traffic on weekends. In Paris, patrols are conducted seven days a week on rollers, but the French capital has the advantage of being blessed with very wide sidewalks.” Do many accidents happen? (laughs) “In the beginning, our trainer used to say: 'The more you fall, the better.' By falling, you learn to overcome fear. I myself have fallen several times, but never seriously. During parades, unstable beginners have dragged colleagues down in their fall.” What tips do you give people who want to skate in Brussels? “First and foremost: take a course, learn to brake. Beginners can also attend free lessons every weekend in the Ter Kamerenbos. Definitely do not start without preparation in the busy Brussels traffic. Practicing as much as possible beforehand on quiet terrain, in the Ter Kamerenbos or in a parking lot, is the message. All ages are represented, by the way, we even had a 70-year-old lady who came to skate with cushions tied around her body to avoid getting too badly hurt in case of a fall.” How does the Roller Parade proceed? “We take care of the escort, with officers in front, in the middle, and at the back. Staff block crossroads, we let Red Cross ambulances come on site if someone has fallen, sometimes we also have to calm down drivers who want to drive on when they have to wait too long at a roadblock. Sometimes we have to intervene against traffic offenders or make hot-headed drivers understand that they should let the rollers enjoy their fun once a week.” What does your work in the Ter Kamerenbos involve? “Patrolling the two-kilometer course. If, for example, we receive a call that a noisy group is playing tam-tam somewhere, we try to calm things down. Or we have to show the way. Or look for a dog.” Photo: Skaters practice in the Ter Kamerenbos. During the summer, the roller parade takes place somewhere in Brussels every Friday. Have you ever caught a criminal? “Not in the Ter Kamerenbos, but during a car-free Sunday, we did catch a bicycle thief. On rollers, you catch fewer thieves than during a normal patrol by car or on foot. But we remain primarily police officers, serving the population and maintaining order.” Belgium Rollers Summer Tour, Friday, June 3, 8 PM. Gather at 7 PM at Poelaertplein. Until September 30. www.belgiumrollers.com or www.rouliroula.com