Police again preparing for possibility of violent incidents during New Year's Eve

The police are again making preparations in the last week of the year for a number of serious incidents expected to happen at the turn of the New Year. Officers have not developed any tips or intelligence to indicate something will definitely happen in a specific location, emphasized Corry van Breda, who runs national violence approaches at the police.

But there are persistent concerns about violence against emergency services workers, considering the power of explosions caused by heavy fireworks and their availability. “We have a task and we are ready for that,” Van Breda said.

Nearly 300 police officers, firefighters, paramedics, street enforcement workers and others with a public function were the victims of verbal or physical violence during the previous New Year’s period. “Sometimes with permanent injuries such as hearing damage, and also serious traumas. That is unacceptable,” said Van Breda.

Throwing heavy fireworks, such as Cobra firecrackers, at aid workers is therefore being treated as attempted manslaughter. In addition, the police have been calling for a ban on fireworks sales, and unified European regulations to combat trade for some time.

In several places, the situation grew uncontrollable last year as 2023 drew to a close and 2024 began. In Hedel, Gelderland, officers were attacked with heavy fireworks. Last week, the court imposed prison sentences of up to three years, including a year of probation, on the suspects convicted in the case.

“That’s good there has been punishment, and it was seriously punished,” said Van Breda. To prevent things from going wrong again, part of Hedel has been designated as a safety risk area this year.

Around 287 people were arrested during last year’s New Year’s Eve. “The New Year should be a celebration. The use of violence or throwing heavy explosives at people who are only doing their job is not a part of that.” Van Breda thinks that everyone is responsible for a safe New Year’s Eve not just the police.

Police can use past experiences to prepare for the evening, but they are also looking at recent events. “For example, in Amsterdam, the political situation when it comes to the Middle-East conflict,” said Van Breda.

Amsterdam had a few evenings of violence surrounding the Ajax- Maccabi Tel Aviv football match. “I'm not saying that we expect anything specific along those lines, but it's just the situation in the world. So we as police have to take that into account."

Neighborhood and youth officers or neighborhood fathers and mothers are being used in an attempt to find out as best as possible what is going on in neighborhoods. This happens throughout the year, but these contacts are intensified in the run-up to New Year's Eve. "A lot of information comes from that."