Camera surveillance on the Asser Koopmansplein is not coming for the time being, even if a council majority wants that. It is not possible legally, says Mayor Marco Out. There are too few incidents.
“If you look at the absolute figures and the number of reports, the situation is not bad enough,” he says. “I also think it is worthless that people feel unsafe in our city, I am also disappointed with the incidents. We are going to get started, but hanging cameras, that is not possible now.”
Citizens and shopkeepers feel increasingly unsafe on and around the Koopmansplein. For example, there were recently a few incidents in a row. The VVD, Assen Central, Stadspartij Plop and CDA see camera surveillance as a ‘solution’ for this.
The cameras would work preventively in the first place, they think. And in the event of rottenness, the culprits can soon be traced. Because you still have the images. But according to Out, the group just slides a little further away, outside the eye of the camera.
Recently the municipality of Assen had already decided to see which groups of young people cause order disturbance, with aggressive behavior and intimidation to other people. It has been decided to a group scan. He must provide clarity about who the young people are who are hanging around. The use of more enforcement should also curb things.
But political parties doubt whether that is sufficient. A majority believes that feeling of freedom is ‘an important condition for a liveable city center’. That is now ruined by that group. Despite all the legal hooks, they want Out ‘to make every effort to make camera surveillance possible on Koopmansplein, and also at other strategic locations in Assen’.
The parties point out earlier cases of heavy nuisance in other areas in the city. Then camera surveillance could, such as in the Rolderstraat, the Gouverneurstuin and the Drostenlaantje. But according to Mayor Out there was a serious disruption of public order due to persistent incidents.
Out understands the worries, also hears from people that they find it unsafe, it is very disappointed and says he does everything to prevent it. But as a mayor he simply has to deal with the Municipalities Act. This indicates that the absolute number of incidents is too low.
“Based on numbers and signals you cannot speak of structural insecurity and then as a mayor you are not allowed to hang cameras, the need is not there.” Out also warned the parties about the so -called false safety that one thinks they have in camera surveillance.
“The idea that there is always supervision, that’s not right,” says Out. “There is not someone watching 24 hours a day.” Although the mayor cannot place cameras at the moment. He wants to do everything to increase the feeling of safety.
For example, he is going to have a security inspection done, to figure out better why people now find it unpleasant on the Koopmansplein, and why that is. He then goes in consultation with the city council to see what is needed for an approach.