In Ter Apel, four street coaches will be deployed from next Monday to bring asylum seekers who cause nuisance to order. It is a trial of the Ministry of Justice and Security (JenV), which also bears the costs.
The street coaches move through the village by bicycle. They will only work on working days for the time being. “But if it just turns out that it can be more effective, we will adjust the days,” said the spokesperson.
What can the street coaches do if, for example, someone is caught shoplifting? “Like any citizen, they can stop someone if there is a criminal offense. Then they call the police and detain the shoplifter until the police arrive,” the spokesperson for JenV told the broadcaster.
The municipality is aware of the arrival of the street coaches, but does not want to comment further. “This is something from the ministry,” said a spokesman. Peter Erdman, the chairman of the local shopkeepers’ association, says he appreciates the efforts of the street coaches: “We can use them well.”
Residents of Ter Apel have to deal with nuisance from asylum seekers from the application center on the edge of the village. This includes shoplifting and vandalism. Asylum seekers also roam the village at night.
‘Street coaches’ are already being deployed in various cities to keep young people in line. But the combination with asylum seekers is new, the JenV spokesperson explains: “It is a trial. We want to know whether this works. If so, we will roll it out to other places where asylum seekers are received.”