Residents complain about drug nuisance in Izegem, mayor nuances: 'Ommegangstraat is not the flakka street'

Several residents of Ommegangstraat in Izegem have voiced strong concerns about drug-related nuisance, claiming that the drug 'flakka' is being dealt in the street and that users frequently come and go. Their worries have escalated to the point where an anonymous poster appeared, labeling Ommegangstraat as the 'flakka street'.

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I have of course every understanding for their concerns. The police are also working on the case.

However, Mayor Kurt Grymonprez urges a more nuanced perspective. While acknowledging the residents' anxieties and confirming that the police are investigating, he stated that the problem appears to be concentrated in a single house on the street. He cautioned against generalizing the issue to the entire Ommegangstraat, emphasizing that it is not definitively known if 'flakka' is the specific or sole drug involved.

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There are indications that dealing is happening in one house in the Ommegangstraat. That is something different than the street now being 'the Flakkastraat of Izegem'. We don't even know if it is specifically or exclusively about flakka.

Grymonprez declined to elaborate on the police's specific actions to avoid jeopardizing the investigation. He stressed the importance of discretion, noting that potential involved parties might be monitoring the situation. Instead, he encouraged residents to persist in reporting any suspicious activities they observe.

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The last thing I need to do now is endanger the investigation by saying all sorts of things about it. Such a thing proceeds best in the quiet. Possible involved parties can read along, right?

"To solve issues like this well, you need a good case file," Grymonprez explained. He urged residents not to become discouraged and stop reporting, but to continue contacting the police. "Only with police reports can we ensure a procedure runs smoothly, if it comes to that," he concluded, emphasizing that consistent reporting is more beneficial than posting flyers.

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So: experience nuisance or see suspicious things, call the police. Only with police reports can we ensure a procedure runs smoothly, if it comes to that.