ANP extension
ANNOUNCEMENTS••Edited
“Let’s hold our breath,” sighs Peije de Meij, New Year’s coordinator at the police, in NOS Radio 1 Newspaper. After two years of a total ban on fireworks, it’s allowed again this year in most places: light fireworks (firecrackers have been banned nationwide since 2020).
Despite the ban, the last turn of the year still out of the way. Even more than in other years, the police have had to deal with aggressive mobs, violence and fireworks.
“It’s up to the people themselves to keep it nice and welcoming, but we’re prepared for that not to be the case,” says De Meij. If things get out of hand, police will feel compelled to press for a nationwide ban on fireworks, he warns.
“In the end it depends on the politicians, that’s not what the police do. But let’s see what happens every year: millions of damage and serious injuries to eyes, hands and children. We look at it with sadness.”
Ban on fireworks in twelve municipalities
Twelve Municipalities have decided to do it again this year ban on fireworks configure. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Apeldoorn, Nijmegen and Utrechtse Heuvelrug, among others, don’t think the current fireworks rules go far enough. In those municipalities only the so-called joke and joke fireworks are allowed, such as streamers and dried peas.
NO
De Meij wonders if the application is feasible there. “We do what we can, but the same evening we can’t even do it anymore. Then there are other issues that play a role, such as public order and citizen safety”.
Grenade
But at the turn of the year, not only the safety of citizens is at stake. Rescuers also have to deal with violence and the launch of heavy fireworks. According to De Meij it is almost impossible to act against this. “We protect our people with good clothing and hearing protection, but it remains difficult.”
And the fact that fireworks sometimes have the power of a hand grenade doesn’t make New Year’s Eve a pleasant evening at work. Though De Meij puts things into perspective: “Police officers don’t scare easily and know they have to be there again. Every shift of the year.”
