Privacy statement reports public space and nuisance

What personal data do we process from you?

Report anonymously

You can make your report anonymously. You will then provide only the following information:

• Details of report itself (your findings regarding the incident you are reporting);
• Location of the incident you are reporting;
• Images of the incident (not required).

If you report anonymously, no personal data about you will be processed.

Not reporting anonymously

In addition to reporting (as described above under the heading "reporting anonymously"), you can also share information that links the report to you as an individual. This includes your:

• Name;
• Phone number (not required);
• Email address (not required);
• Any personal data you provide in the free report text. The purpose of processing personal data for public space and nuisance reports is;
• For what purpose will the data be used;
• Being able to report to the Municipality of Heerlen or other government agencies a situation in public space that deviates from the standard that objects or situations must meet after which the organization concerned can handle the report and provide feedback (assessment, routing, execution, feedback and feedback);
• Being able to report nuisance from events, hospitality industry or individuals to reduce/stop the nuisance, after which the municipality of Heerlen or another government organization can handle the report and provide feedback (assessment, routing, implementation, feedback and feedback);
• Optimize and improve the services provided by the Municipality of Heerlen and other government organizations in the field of public space.

No forwarding

Personal data is not processed outside the European Economic Area (EEA).

Automated decision-making

Automated decision-making takes place in the "public space and nuisance reports" system. This decision-making determines for which department or external organization a report is intended, and automatically forwards the report to this department. Without an algorithm, an employee would forward the received report to the correct department or external organization. Thus, this action is largely automated.

To do this, it uses "natural language processing" and "machine learning. Machine learning refers to algorithms that become smarter through experience - processing large amounts of data.

The algorithm in the registration system for "reports of public space and nuisance" "reads" and interprets the report and automatically determines the category of the report. In addition, the algorithm can automatically determine the urgency. And finally, the algorithm can deduplicate any duplicate reports. The algorithm does not focus on directly identifying personal data, such as the phone number or e-mail address of the reporter. These personal data are therefore not part of the automated decision-making process.

Automated decision-making (forwarding the report to the appropriate department or external organization) does not lead to decisions with a legal effect. Nothing changes in the individual legal status of the reporter.

Basis and purpose

The municipality processes these personal data for the performance of a public interest task.

There is no overarching legal framework laying down all the rights and obligations of municipalities with regard to the management of public space. The municipality has to deal with its own regulations (such as the General Municipal Bye-Law) and specific laws and regulations of the national, provincial and water boards, among others. As a general principle, the municipality has a duty of care to maintain and promote safety in public spaces. In addition to the purpose of dealing with the report, the municipality can use reports for the purpose of promoting livability and safety in the vicinity of the report. This is done by consulting and analyzing reports to create a liveability and safety picture with which the municipality can improve them in a targeted and structural way.

The underlying laws and regulations also depend on the nature of the report.

Key laws and regulations include:

• Municipal Law
• General local ordinance (APV). 
• Liquor and Catering Law
• Roads Act
• Noise Pollution Act
• Soil Protection Act
• Environmental Management Act
• Housing Law
• Spatial Planning Act
• Nature Protection Act
• Flora and fauna law
• Attractions and Play Equipment Act Decree

How long will my personal data be kept?

The municipality retains personal data for as long as it is necessary for the performance of its duties, or as stipulated in the Archives Act. This means that your personal data collected for "Report public space and nuisance" will be deleted 52 weeks after completion of the report.

Who do we share your data with?

In addition to reports handled by the municipality itself, the municipality of Heerlen also receives reports that cannot be handled by the municipality of Heerlen. These reports are forwarded to the appropriate organization, closed and stored.

As part of the proper handling of reports of public space and nuisance, the Municipality of Heerlen exchanges any necessary personal data in the report with other organizations. If permission is not obtained to pass on personal data of the reporter to the organizations listed below, the Municipality of Heerlen naturally does not do so.

• South Limburg Animal Ambulance Foundation 
• Animal Protection Center Limburg 
• Living South 
• Living Limburg 
• Weller 
• Heemwonen
• Municipality of Landgraaf
• Municipality of Kerkrade 
• Municipality of Voerendaal 
• Municipality of Brunssum 
• Fire Department 
• Ambulance 
• Police

This Privacy Statement "Public Space and Nuisance Reports" is part of the general privacy statement of the Municipality of Heerlen. Want to invoke your rights or have privacy-related questions? Then check the general privacy statement.