THE DEBATE. How should the nuisance caused by young people in recreational areas be tackled? This is your opinion | Inland

Amber Habex: “Two warnings, third fine and a ban between four to six weeks.”

Dirk Henderieckx: “Reserve a seat via app. Second scan at entrance. If the person has already caused problems, reservations are no longer possible that summer in all recreational areas. Of course, fines and/or community service should also be provided in proportion to the problems caused.”

Liesbeth Cuppens: “Centrally register the names of everyone who is “known to the court”, so that amok makers can immediately give the appropriate punishment. Now young people think they are untouchable and they indulge themselves at the expense of others. Time for the ‘action-reaction’ principle. Wrong act, immediate consequence.”

Johanna Ruiter: “In the Netherlands you can no longer enter a swimming pool without a fingerprint scan. You have to do that the first time you come to be able to swim. In the case of undesirable behavior, there is a note after your name that will be passed on to every other swimming pool. Also always hang up cameras.”

Kris de Decker: “Denying them access is not a solution. Surely there must be punishment. Otherwise nothing will change, because in a group the young people consider themselves inviolable. If individuals are punished individually, they will behave as individuals and not as a group.”

Bart Vanderbruggen: “Do as they do now: booking in advance is an excellent measure. Here in Kortrijk, the outdoor swimming pool was always a prize a few years ago. Until a mandatory ten-turn card was introduced that had to be purchased elsewhere. Suddenly the nuisance was over.”

Anne Boonefaes: “They walk around like hotheads not only in recreational areas, but also on the beach. Towards the late afternoon they terrorize the dike and the operators of the catering industry and the go-kart services by storming in in a group and just installing themselves or jumping on go-karts and driving away with them. We had to close the business several times last week at 6.30 pm because it was no longer tenable, although we would otherwise be open until at least 10 pm. Send out more police patrol as a preventive measure!”

Artthe Verdoodt: “Allowing access to young people who are not accompanied by their parents only if they register their identity details.”

Paul Van den Berge: “Perhaps address all those parents and point out their responsibility in relation to upbringing. Also write out a fine faster and actually collect it. Then make it clear: misbehaving just once means being excluded everywhere and forever in every recreational area.”

Mario Tersago: “I agree with Mayor Vandersmissen… the main thing is to increase controls. A ban is worth nothing if there is no control. The presence of authorized police officers is therefore essential, because you cannot expect this from supervisors or rescuers.”