BrusselGuido De Bie is manager of La Grande Maroquinerie, a leather goods store in Forest. He was robbed in his shop in broad daylight on Friday. When he wanted to file a report in Dutch, that turned out to be a problem.
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“A man came into the store and walked away with my wallet,” Guido says. “It contained some cash, but also some personal items that I would really like to have back.” Guido decided to report it to the police in the hope that the wallet would then be found. “I don’t care that I lost the money — the thieves probably took that out a long time ago. However, I still hope they find my personal belongings.”
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“They did their best”
But when Guido arrived at the local police in Forest to file his report, they were unable to help him in Dutch. “The police officers did their best to help me in Dutch, but communication was difficult. Of course I also speak French, but for delicate matters such as a tax return it is a lot easier if you can express yourself in your own language.”
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For delicate matters such as a declaration it is a lot easier if you can express yourself in your own language
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“The police in Forest referred me to the Saint-Gilles police station, where, according to them, there would probably be someone who could help me further in Dutch.” Guido decided not to take that risk and suggested that he go to Ghent to file a complaint. “The police officers thought that was a good idea, because there I had a better chance of being helped in Dutch…”
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Guido was fortunately unharmed in the theft, but it could have been much worse. “What if the thief had attacked me? Then I would not have been able to explain in Dutch what had happened because they would not understand me. And going to Ghent when you are injured is of course not an option either.”
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Guido went to the police in Ghent on Friday evening to file a report, only to read on the door that the office was exceptionally closed. “I’m afraid that tonight I (Saturday, ed.) once again go to Ghent for an attempt to report it.”
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