Most people will celebrate the transition to the new year festively. The police invest heavily in advance in cooperation with municipalities and other partners to ensure a festive New Years Eve. Various initiatives are underway to make New Years Eve a celebration. However, the police are also prepared for the possibility that the New Years night may be turbulent in some places. It is unpredictable whether the upcoming fireworks ban will lead to more incidents and excesses this New Years Eve, says Paul Entken, national commander NSGBO New Years Eve. This National Staff for Large-scale and Special Operations monitors the situation in the country during New Years Eve, coordinates police deployment, and leads at a strategic level. In our preparations, we always consider the possibility of a hectic New Years Eve. We will have our hands full.

New Years Eve is the busiest night of the year for the police and other emergency services. Our priority is to ensure the New Years celebration is safe for citizens, colleagues, and fellow emergency responders, says Entken. In many places in the Netherlands, New Years Eve is cozy and festive. Unfortunately, this is not the case everywhere.

Target

The use of fireworks – whether or not combined with alcohol and vandalism – leads every New Years Eve to an atmosphere of lawlessness with many incidents in several places. Police and emergency responders are often the targets. During the last New Years Eve alone, 295 police officers and 44 emergency responders faced aggression and violence.

With more fireworks in circulation, the chance of accidents is greater, states Ko Minderhoud, national fireworks coordinator at the police. When violence against police officers occurs during New Years Eve, it often involves illegally traded items. But even with legally sold regular fireworks, colleagues are attacked. Think of cake boxes carried on shoulders and aimed at police officers and emergency responders. Entken: Throwing fireworks at emergency responders crosses all limits. We file charges of attempted manslaughter when fireworks are thrown at us and prioritize the investigation of suspects.

Detection and Enforcement

There are many and also intense incidents around New Years Eve, which demands a lot from us, says Entken. On New Years Eve and New Years night, more police officers are on duty. At the control room, we have maximally scaled up and even work with double staffing. Despite this effort, we usually cannot handle the number of reports. We have to make choices during incidents and enforce where it is most necessary. Minderhoud adds that it is important for society to realize that fireworks have lost their innocence. Our approach aims to prevent prohibited heavy fireworks from reaching the streets. We can detect, we can enforce, but we cannot 100% prevent the misuse of prohibited fireworks – sometimes with the power of a hand grenade.

Approach from Municipalities and Partners

Throughout the year, the police follow local leaders in investing in local contacts and initiatives, and it is evident that many municipalities achieve good results with this. For example, there is intensive contact with key figures and youth in neighborhoods, such as neighborhood fathers and mothers who are in contact with local groups. The police see that this approach bears fruit in many places and contributes to a safe New Years Eve. An example is Huizen, where – after a year with serious disturbances – a safe New Years Eve was achieved last year through a targeted and successful approach. We do not start such a preventive approach alone or just before New Years Eve. We do this together with many partners and it runs throughout the year, says Mayor Niek Meijer of Huizen. We can never exclude disturbances, but we have seen and noticed that this gets us ahead of the problem. It has an effect and offers us the opportunity to have real conversations with the target group and parents about what is needed. If they do not want that, we will set limits. The effect last year was a relaxed New Years Eve. I am confident this approach works well in our municipality.

What Can You Do Yourself?

Neighborhood residents themselves also play an important role. Entken: Avoid risks and only buy fireworks through official fireworks sales points in the Netherlands and from the moment it is allowed. The police also urge to report through the correct channels:

  • If there is fireworks nuisance and no sight of the perpetrator(s), report the nuisance to the municipality.
  • If the fireworks nuisance is ongoing and you have sight of the perpetrator(s), call the police at 0900-8844.
  • Illegal trade and storage of prohibited fireworks pose life-threatening situations. If you have information, report it to the police at 0900-8844 or anonymously via M. 0800 7000 or via Meldmisdaadanoniem.nl.

Emergency Number 112

The emergency number 112 is only intended for urgent help. Entken: Unfortunately, we see that 112 is often called incorrectly during New Years Eve, for example for nuisance reports. Incorrect calls can lead to people in life-threatening situations not being helped quickly enough. Therefore, only call the emergency number when there is a life-threatening situation. For all other cases that cannot wait until after New Years Eve, you can contact the police at 0900-8844.

Proud of Commitment

Despite the risks, police officers are present again during New Years Eve. Entken: For a few hours of celebration, a great demand is placed on our capacity. I am proud that many colleagues commit themselves again to a safe New Years Eve and step forward when needed.