The ban on glass and cans in Breda’s city center is purely and solely intended for safety. That says Mayor Paul Depla. The news that during Carnival in the city center security guards will check whether revelers bring their own cans or bottles gave some the impression that it was also intended to protect the interests of the catering industry. After all, it misses out on a lot of income if carnival-goers bring their own drinks.
According to mayor Depla, that image is not correct. “It was given the impression that we are taking this measure to support the catering industry, but we really do not adjust the rules of the General Local Regulation (APV) for that. This is purely for safety.”
According to Depla, the demand for the new policy largely comes from the police. “We see that glass and cans have become an increasing safety problem in recent years. People step into it or it is even used as a weapon. I am therefore pleased that we have now decided to ban glass and cans in public spaces.”
“We’re really doing this for safety.”
Nevertheless, according to the mayor, we do not have to worry that the Breda city center will be shielded with strict entrance gates. “Maintaining public order is primarily the responsibility of the boas, the police and security guards. Because of this ban, they can now also carry out extra checks on brought drinks.”
Boas and agents can ask carnival celebrants on the street to hand in cans and bottles, the security guards do that at the catering industry.
The new approach announced on Monday by the Breda catering industry caused commotion among the police unions. They feared a lot of extra work to prevent the catering industry from losing income. But according to Depla, that is not the case: “We really do this for safety.” According to him, the police have also asked for this measure.
“Then I think: on which planet do they live?”
Maarten Brink strongly opposed the idea that the catering industry should be protected on behalf of the ACP, NPB and ANPV police unions. “When I read that the Breda catering industry proposes this, I think: what planet do they live on? They want to call boas and the police with every mishap. While they are already far below the strength. Declarations remain, reports are not picked up … and then you start shouting things like this.”
If the goal is safety, he can agree with that: “If it really comes to pushing glass and cans out of the catering area, then of course we can only support that.”
But he still has his doubts about the feasibility of the controls. “If officers have to show up for every carnival celebration who does not want to hand over their can… We are not waiting for that.”
READ ALSO: Checks should prevent carnival celebrations from bringing their own drinks
