Mayor Takes a Hard Line Against Youth Vandalism in Heerlerheide
Roel Wever , mayor of Heerlen, is taking additional measures to combat youth-related disturbances in Heerlerheide. Young people are intimidating residents, vandalizing property, and resorting to violence. The mayor is working with the police to put a stop to this.
Since the summer vacation, the disturbances have gotten worse, and people feel unsafe. Residents have reported that the young people:
- throwing eggs and rocks at people
- opening the doors of moving cars
- insulting random people
- kicking and hitting people
- riding through the neighborhood as a group on bikes and scooters
What measures is the mayor taking?
The police and the mayor are cracking down on this. Here's what they've done in recent weeks:
- 13 area bans imposed
- 1 area restriction imposed on a minor
- Teenagers Arrested
- Fines Imposed
- Drugs Seized
- A baton was confiscated
- Scooters Seized
Mayor Roel Wever says:
These young people in Heerlerheide are engaging in outright criminal behavior. I’m working hard with the police to make Heerlen safe and livable, so we simply cannot tolerate this kind of behavior. And as I’ve said before, parents must also take responsibility for keeping their children in line. All too often, police officers or municipal enforcement officers are met with backtalk from parents when they confront them about their child’s behavior. It’s only a good thing that residents are reaching out to me about this themselves. They can count on me to do everything in my power, in consultation with the police, to restore peace and order. Please continue to report disturbances and do not confront the offenders yourself.
What happens if the disturbance continues?
If youth-related disturbances continue, the mayor is considering additional measures:
- More area restrictions
- Additional CCTV Surveillance
- More police actions and boa's
Mayor Wever: “I’m gradually getting pretty fed up with this nuisance. If necessary, I’ll take action.”