Police to Carry out Curfew Checks from Friday

In a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Luxembourg's Minister of Internal Security, Henri Kox, confirmed that the Grand Ducal Police would begin carrying out checks to ensure curfew restrictions are respected from Friday 30 October 2020.

Whilst recognising the importance of personal freedom, Minister Henri Kox stressed that "unprecedented times require unprecedented actions", with rising cases meaning that new measures were required in Luxembourg and beyond. Although police checks will not start before Friday (and the laws had not yet been passed in Parliament at the time of the conference), the minister urged the public to respect the new restrictions immediately. He added that homeless people are exempt from persecution.

Philippe Schrantz, Director General of the Grand Ducal Police, explained how the police is under increasing pressure to carry out the new tasks related to the COVID-19 crisis. He thanked officers and staff members for their hard work since the start of the crisis.

Pascal Peters, Central Director of the Administrative Police, then explained that the police have carried out around 13,000 checks to date, excluding border controls. The police received 5,000 calls from the public over violations of COVID-19 restrictions and 300 judicial and administrative protocols were filed. Officers have given out around 2,800 fines of €145 to individuals failing to wear a mask or to respect lockdown restrictions earlier this year.

Philippe Schrantz emphasised that police officers would now focus on three main areas when carrying out checks: bars and restaurants; larger crowds; and checking that the curfew is respected. As such, the police will carry out more nighttime patrols. Mr Schrantz added that individuals who are required to go out during curfew (catching / getting off a flight, travelling to work...) should keep on them some form of document as proof of their reason for doing so.

Minister Henri Kox concluded by urging the public to follow the rules and "stay at home from 23:00 to 06:00".