36 Arrests in The Hague City Center

Gebied: Den Haag

On Saturday, November 29, 36 people were arrested in the center of The Hague during a police-facilitated demonstration. The arrested individuals are suspected of various offenses, including possession of prohibited items found during preventive searches. The police acted under an order for preventive searches issued by the Public Prosecution Service after the mayor designated part of the city center as a safety risk area. The aim was to ensure safety and public order.

Photo: Regio 15

The demonstration involved a gathering at Laan van Reagan and Gorbatsjov and a march through the city center starting around 2:00 PM. The designation of the safety risk area was established in close cooperation with the triangle (Mayor, Public Prosecution Service, and The Hague Police Unit). There was also a ban on wearing face-covering clothing. The measures were intended to ensure the demonstration proceeded orderly and to safeguard the safety of participants and bystanders. The demonstration ended around 4:00 PM.

Arrests

During the demonstration, 36 people were arrested for various offenses such as wearing face-covering clothing, possession of weapons like stabbing weapons, and heavy fireworks.

Safety Risk Area

The mayor designated part of the city center of The Hague as a safety risk area from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM to ensure safety and public order. The public prosecutor then issued an order for preventive searches, allowing the police to conduct these searches within the safety risk area.

Preventive Searches

The police are allowed to conduct preventive searches to detect weapons and dangerous objects, even without concrete suspicion. Other goods, vehicles, and luggage may also be inspected in a safety risk area. The goal is to tackle possession and use of weapons and fireworks to prevent or reduce violent crimes, ensuring the demonstration proceeds orderly and the safety of participants and bystanders is as well protected as possible.

Police Action on Criminal Offenses

Accompanying demonstrations, ensuring a safe process, and maintaining public order are part of our work. Therefore, we were visibly present at todays demonstration. Demonstrating is a fundamental right and must occur within the limits of the law. Our efforts always aim to prevent potential problems. We act when criminal offenses are committed, when agreements regarding the demonstration are not followed, or when the safety of demonstrators or bystanders is at risk. The mayor and the Public Prosecution Service set the framework for our actions as local competent authorities.