The municipality of Roosendaal is taking new measures in the fight against fireworks nuisance. More than two hundred nuisance reports have been received by the municipality recently. That is why from this Monday in Roosendaal it is prohibited to wear a balaclava, scarf or cap that covers your face. You are also not allowed to have anything with you that you can use to make your own explosive, for example.
The additional measures are being taken after the situation escalated in the Kroeven and Langdonk districts at the end of September. A group of young people then threw heavy fireworks at two enforcers and a police officer.
‘A hat against the cold is allowed’
The Roosendaal municipal council has included the new rules in the General Local Ordinance (APV), so that police and enforcement can more easily take action against people who light fireworks on the street or have them with them. A spokesperson for the municipality says that the new rules have been included in the APV at the request of the police. According to him, this is a unanimous decision of the municipal council. He emphasizes that you can still wear a hat against the cold: “As long as your face can be seen.”
The ban does not apply to people wearing face-covering clothing such as a niqab or burqa. And will only apply ‘in combination with disruptions to public order’, the municipality spokesperson adds.
The two measures were included in the regulation at the request of the police, she says. It is still unclear how long the new bans will remain in effect. In any case, the local ordinance (apv) is ‘periodically cleaned up and adjusted.’
Years of nuisance
In the run-up to New Year’s Eve, residents of the two neighborhoods have been suffering from explosions and intimidation for years, but so early as this year is new. Precisely the reason why the municipality previously took a number of measures. For example, the parents of approximately 4,500 minors received a letter as a precaution. Including the call to talk to their children. In addition, young people who have so far been caught with fireworks on the street have been invited to meet with the mayor for an interview with their parents.
Nuisance decreases
The police have recently been able to arrest several young people for the nuisance they caused. Some were caught red-handed, others were traced after reports from local residents. According to the municipality, this and the previous measures have resulted in a decrease in the number of nuisance reports due to fireworks. Last week the counter stopped at 49. The week before, during the autumn holidays, fireworks nuisance was reported 131 times. The number of reports was highest in the first week of October, at 214.
“We assume that the measures we have taken are starting to have some effect. I expect that a number of parents have spoken to their children. I am really happy with that,” writes mayor Mark Buijs. “Obviously, other factors will also play a role in the decrease in nuisance reports. For example, a number of young firecrackers will probably have been deterred by the arrests of their friends,” he continues.
Searches
Recently, several houses in Roosendaal were searched because it was suspected that there were fireworks. Fireworks were found in five houses. In all cases a penalty of 2,500 euros was imposed. This amount must be paid if fireworks are found again during a subsequent inspection