In a part of Lage Zwaluwe, a gathering prohibition for young people from 12 to 20 years has been in place since Friday afternoon. There has been a nuisance from a group of young people who destroy things and intimidates people around primary school De Grienden. Because there is less supervision during the carnival holidays, the mayor has decided to prohibit a gathering prohibition. Local residents are happy that something is being done, but fear that this does not solve the problem.
If the prohibition of gathering starts on Friday afternoon, the young people are in no fields or roads to be found. There are, however, small children playing on the skating track and the football field next to primary school De Grienden. A mother supervises. “I don’t dare let my child play here alone,” she says. “And that applies to more parents. A group of young people aged twelve to fifteen causes many problems. They take the ball and then throw them in the ditch so that those little ones can no longer play football. And they destroy a lot.”
“They made a hole in the window and thrown fireworks in.”
The mother, who wants to remain anonymous, points to the library that is located next to the school. Three windows are closed with wooden plates. “That young people did around New Year. They made a hole in the window and threw fireworks in. As a result, the windows jumped. But it could have ended much worse, the whole library could have been on fire.”
Other local residents confirm the problems. “Clothing containers and trash cans have already been set on fire a few times,” says a lady who walks her dog. “They also thrown a lot of things on the road and set fire to them. And they intimidate and threaten people who pass by. My daughter is no longer allowed outside after dinner, although she is smart enough to go away when she meets that group.”
“It is sad that a prohibition of gathering is needed.”
In the streets around primary school there are now signs on which you can read that there is a prohibition of gathering for three or more young people from twelve to twenty years. Although local residents are happy that the municipality is doing something, they have little faith that this will really solve the problems. “It is sad that this is necessary,” says a man who is at the glass container. “I doubt it helps. I have seen two of those young people speak to agents. But they only started to laugh very loudly. Moreover, I think it is difficult to maintain the prohibition of gathering with carnival, when there are a lot of groups of people on the street.”
The worried mothers also have little hope. “I don’t think those young people will worry a lot. Moreover, I am afraid that the problem will move. Then they will hang out in other places in the village and cause problems.”
