Police and enforcement will show themselves more in the Emmer district of Angelslo in the coming period. According to Mayor Eric van Oosterhout, that measure follows after a series of incidents in the neighborhood. Whether this will be a permanent measure must be apparent from a study that is currently ongoing.
In Angelslo, several incidents occurred in the past period, including a serious abuse after the cycling event De Gouden Pijl. The abuse of a young man by a group of young people led to great indignation, especially after the brother of the victim shared photos of the injuries on Facebook. The message went viral and from the reactions to the message it could be concluded that there would be a great sense of insecurity in the neighborhood.
It is not the only thing that played in Angelslo in recent months. In May the neighborhood was startled by a shooting at the Tammingecamp. According to Van Oosterhout, there is no connection between these and other incidents. But he can very well imagine that it does something with the feeling of safety in the neighborhood.
As an immediate response, it has been agreed that the police and municipal enforcers (for the time being temporarily) will be more visible in Angelslo, according to Van Oosterhout. “That means more supervision, extra rounds through the neighborhood and direct approach to nuisance,” says Van Oosterhout. “The police were asked to pay more attention in these neighborhoods. We do that with our own enforcers.”
For the time being, the existing enforcement capacity is being used, but expansion is not excluded. “If research shows that there are persistent problems, then that will be on the table.” In that case it may be that Emmen expands the number of boas.
The decision for this depends on an investigation by the municipality in collaboration with the police into the figures concerning such incidents. Both dives into their own database to form a good picture. In addition to Angelslo, the Emmerhout and Emmermeer neighborhoods, where similar problems occurs, are also taken. Van Oosterhout expects this investigation to take one to two months.
The municipality not only looks at hard crime figures, but also at how safe residents feel. That is why discussions are held with local residents, entrepreneurs, neighborhood associations and organizations as a welfare institution Sedna and youth organization Angelslo Academy. The goal is to get a better picture of what is going on in the neighborhood.
The use of the Angelslo Academy plays an important role in this. Young people can learn and develop here. The municipality is now investigating whether broader opening times or extra activities are possible. Sedna is also approached to guide young people who are at risk.
Van Oosterhout is aware of the two -edged sword around the sense of safety. “In fact, Emmen is still one of the safest large municipalities in the Netherlands. And the crime figures show, apart from digital crime, a falling trend. I can call very loudly: it is not too bad. But there is only an older person to be robbed and everyone calls: you see. So I find that complicated.”
He does not think that an excess of the police is the solution. “Of course, enforcement is important, but it is too easy to think that more blue solves everything on the street.” Things can happen, even if there is enough enforcement, says Van Oosterhout.
The real solution lies in improving the living conditions of people, he thinks. “If you want people to behave better, you also have to look at their environment and everything that comes with it. At the same time: people who are really balling, who are about the wrote: you just have to pick it up.”