Drenthe municipalities are joining forces against illegal fireworks. With a new campaign together with Meld Misdaad Anoniem, they appeal to alert citizens and ask them to report suspicious situations.
Illegal fireworks can be stored anywhere. In sheds or attics, next to boilers, cars or gas bottles. That is why Mayor Eric van Oosterhout of Emmen wants to point out to people on behalf of the Drenthe Approach to Undermining the risks associated with taking or storing illegal fireworks.
“If you have the trunk full of fireworks and you are driving from Germany to the Netherlands and you end up in a pile-up, for example, you don’t want to know what will happen. There are many risks associated with storing and transporting illegal fireworks,” Oosterhout warns.
Van Oosterhout cannot say how many illegal fireworks are confiscated in Drenthe each year. According to him, it is clear that a lot comes into our province from abroad. “That makes it very complicated, especially in the Zuidoosthoek. In Noordenveld it won’t be too bad. But here in the municipality of Emmen we really notice that.”
“I point out the risks of this and I also emphasize that people must report if they see that illegal fireworks are in circulation. You can do this directly with the police or with the municipality. If you do not completely trust it, there is also Report Crime Anonymous.”