A petition and its own vigilante? The parents who had a conversation this week about the safety of their children at primary school ‘t Vierspan in Grootebroek feel powerless and unheard of. They move into action. “We are running into a high wall of authorities pointing at each other. Let’s hope that we don’t have to walk a silent journey later, because afterwards the situation was misjudged,” says father Roy, whose 12-year-old daughter was threatened with a knife.
The school door is locked during the day and there was a security guard at the school for days. Extra supervision and police have been deployed to restore peace. But given the suspect lives opposite the school, the situation remains tense and irresponsible, according to father Roy. Together with a group of parents and local residents, they are very worried after a confused man suddenly walked into the schoolyard last week and threatened several children with a knife.
Of a petition the parents demand that the neighborhood be made safe, with effective measures for the longer term. More than 250 people have signed it. “Safety should not be an option, but a guarantee. We are going to knock on the door harder and harder, then through a petition,” Roy said.
Conversation
Because after a conversation with the police at the beginning of this week and a meeting at school, parents have more questions than answers, says father Roy. “We are angry because of impotence and do not feel heard. It is mainly emphasized what is not legally possible and because there is no file on the suspect, nothing can be done.”
He also finds it incomprehensible that the suspect was released after 6 hours. “And that without restrictions. So he can just come to the schoolyard or to other schools.” Clear agreements, a policy plan for social housing opposite the school and the relocation of residents, is what the parents want to achieve with the petition.
vigilante
“That it is necessary to put a security guard at an elementary school tells me that there is more going on than we know. Why else should this man who lives opposite the school be monitored 24/7?” Mother Stephanie wonders. Her two daughters stayed home last Monday out of fear.
“I find it very scary to take them to school. Something has to be done now. We are looking to set up a vigilante, where a number of parents alternate and patrol the schoolyard. But what if things really go wrong? I can’t stop a bullet either.”
Security was there to keep watch in front of the school until Wednesday afternoon, Roy continues. “The best man has been observed for four days, that is ‘enough’. He has behaved for a week. If there is a camera on my sniffer, I would not rob a bank or do things that are not allowed.”
Nuisance notifications
He spoke with all the authorities involved and with local residents. They would have reported the nuisance man more than once. But the municipality of Stede Broec knows nothing about it. “The municipality has not previously received any signals about this resident from the district. That is why we were not able to identify this in advance,” says Mayor Ronald Wortelboer.
According to the municipality, due to legislation and regulations, it is not possible in this situation to admit the resident or to house elsewhere. He says that a structural solution is being worked behind the scenes. “We have a duty of care to all our residents. In this case, that also means to the relevant resident. […] He is currently being monitored by the authorities. This process should lead to proper care for this person. So that peace can return to the neighborhood.”
Unrest and powerlessness
He understands the concerns of the parents and has been in contact with Norah and her father, the school and the nursery after the incident. “The incident in the schoolyard is a sade event. It has a big impact on the girl and the other kids who were playing there at the timen. We understand their sense of powerlessness and incomprehension of the situation. huhet has also led to much unrest in the neighbourhood.”
For Roy’s daughter Norah, life is still turned upside down. “She is anxiously sitting on the couch at home. The impact is enormous. We have asked victim help, she has good guidance. They also go to school.”
Research completed
With the petition, the parents want thorough neighborhood research to be carried out. And so a file, through which steps can possibly be taken. Roy: “I’m not going to let it rest for the neighborhood, we’ll just keep going until there is a hearing. If this man had been properly cared for, the whole thing might not have been there.”
Mayor Wortelboer acknowledges that the municipality has limited possibilities to act in these kinds of situations. According to him, there is a broader problem, which means that many municipalities are more often faced with nuisance from confused people.
“At a national level, choices have been made that have led to care and assistance being designed as much as possible in the own living environment. In principle, healthcare in the Netherlands is on a voluntary basis. Self-determination is a great asset and forced care is the exception. We find this a worrying development.“
The police said in a response that the investigation has now been completed and will soon be handed over to the Public Prosecution Service. The mayor calls on residents to report nuisance to the police or in case of worrying situations (confused behaviour, pollution) to the municipality, district consultant or GGD.