The move comes as a reaction to a circular sent out by the prosecutor for Brussels containing a list of offences for which suspects will no longer be held in custody. Those include minor assaults, possession of a weapon and breaking into cars. Police have been ordered to take a suspect’s details and arrange for an interview at another time, and the reason given was extra delays created by the Salduz law.

According to Edgar Boydens, chairman of the bar organisation, the real intention behind the circular is to allow police to circumvent the Salduz law. “The police don’t like it when a lawyer is present during questioning, and they can avoid that by not depriving a suspect of his liberty,” Boydens said. Federal justice minister Annemie Turtelboom has pledged to evaluate the situation based on the arrangements actually made by police with suspects.