Josh Walet PhotographyME in action during New Year’s Eve in Alphen aan den Rijn
NOS News•today, 7.50pm•Adjusted today, 9.11pm
Only a nationwide fireworks ban will go some way to preventing riots, damage and injuries among officers on New Year’s Eve. This is what Frank Paauw, head of the Amsterdam police and national manager of the prevention of violence against the police, says.
“The incidents we encounter always have to do with fireworks being set off,” says Paauw. “It creates an atmosphere of lawlessness.” Officers’ actions are made more difficult because they cannot see whether there are legal or illegal fireworks.
“We are ready for a change,” says Paauw, who appeals to politicians. “We always get a lot of sympathy after New Year’s Eve and there’s a lot of shame about it, but then it all ends. A fireworks ban will really help.”
Also this New Year’s Eve the police had to intervene in disturbances, vandalism, arson, disturbances and provide information to the emergency services. At least 200 people were arrested. And this year too, officers have been injured, often due to fireworks.
Around two hundred officers are expected to report the fireworks incident on New Year’s Eve this week. This not only affects injured officers, but also officers hit by heavy explosives.
Poor hearing
But calls for a nationwide fireworks ban have so far received little attention from national politicians. The parties negotiating a new cabinet, VVD, PVV, NSC and BBB, are against it.
According to these parties, people who simply throw arrows at the door with family or friends are not the problem. For them, these are rioters who have often purchased illegal fireworks. And this must be maintained.
The VVD wants illegal fireworks to fall under the Prohibited Weapons and Ammunition Act, so that penalties for violators will also be tougher. According to the Prosecutor’s Fireworks Barometer, the detection of illegal fireworks has a long history. This is hundreds of thousands of kilos. But it is impossible to track everything in sheds or attics. For this reason, the VVD wants to make purchases more difficult also at postal and parcel companies and in a European context.
BBB wants to discuss solutions other than a total ban with the police and speaks of a “behavioural problem”. Due to the use of balaclavas during the riots, the NSC supports an extension of the ban on wearing clothing that covers the face.
Paauw doesn’t expect much from all this. Once lit, in chaotic situations it is not possible to distinguish between legal and illegal fireworks, he says. “And balaclavas are not a new phenomenon for us.”
“The worrying thing is that these groups have made preparations to confront us.” But at most it sends a signal, she says, just like with the football riots. “I would urge politicians to worry about banning fireworks, not balaclavas.”
There was unrest in several cities towards the end of the year, including The Hague:
Riot in The Hague, police car damaged
Paauw expects more reports from police officers this year. “There were fewer incidents but more instances where officers had to deal with large fireworks.” This year too, the VVD is calling for a ban on community service for these types of violent perpetrators and “illegal exhibitionists.” Even if it is ‘the first time’ that they find themselves in front of a judge.
For the Burdaard riots in Friesland two years ago, for example, the Prosecutor’s Office requested unconditional prison sentences. Despite the protection, the officers suffered hearing damage from the very heavy fireworks. The Public Prosecutor had requested four months’ imprisonment against two people “on the front line” and a ban on celebrating New Year’s Eve next year. They were eventually committed to community service by the police judge.
In 2021, the House of Representatives voted by a small majority to ban community service in these types of cases. But the proposal failed a year later in the Senate, because a small majority believed that judges should decide the punishment themselves.
The VVD hopes for a second chance in the new House of Representatives and Senate.
Ban on local fireworks
This year too, several municipalities have opted to ban local fireworks. But the ban only applies to lighting. A municipality cannot introduce a sales ban. For example, this year Nijmegen was banned from lighting fireworks, while six outlets in the city were legally selling fireworks.
Officers in Nijmegen and Wijchen were hit by heavy fireworks. Their colleagues from Enschede had to help in the region. One officer had to go to hospital with a broken jaw and a concussion suffered during a fight at an entertainment venue.
The Association of Dutch Municipalities is not in favor of local bans because they are unclear. The VNG wants a national ban that can be enforced.
“We also thought that this was not possible with the smoking ban,” says Paauw. “Sooner or later, as a sane society, we will have to ban fireworks.”
2024-01-02 18:50:01
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