Police in the Northern Netherlands busy with nuisance and fires on New Year’s Eve
News
During the turn of the year, the Northern Netherlands police received many reports of fires, vandalism and nuisance. The police in Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe have arrested fifteen people. The three provinces say that the night passed without major disturbances.
In Groningen, the riot police intervened twice because it was confused on the street and a safe work situation had to be resolved for safety. Even after midnight, a cop in that same city sustained injuries that caused him to be hit by fireworks. Fireworks are also thrown at the police in Assen and Hoogeveen.
The Northern Netherlands police also reports a serious incident due to accidents involving fireworks. In Drachten, for example, a young child was hit by fireworks. The species has been taken to hospital and the police are investigating the incident.
Falling line
Over the past two years, various strict corona measures have applied, such as a national ban on fireworks and a maximum group size for both indoors and outdoors. During the turn of the year last year, the police arrested a total of 289 people in connection with ‘New Year’s incidents’. gradually include fights and other types of assault, arson, various forms of nuisance and vandalism. That was about the same as the year before, when the police arrested 282 people during New Year’s Eve.
In the last turn of the year before corona, from 2019 to 2020, 356 people were arrested. The number of postures shows a downward trend over the long term. For example, during New Year’s Eve from 2014 to 2015, 639 people were arrested.