Ghent Police Deploy Cameras to Tackle Fireworks Vandalism Following 24 Arrests

Ghent (Eurotoday): Ghent police will install temporary cameras at five locations from December 27 to January 2 to deter fireworks vandalism, following 24 arrests last New Year’s Eve, as concerns rise.

In Ghent, the police will set up temporary cameras at five locations from December 27 to January 2 to monitor the area and address issues with fireworks vandalism, which has been a problem during the end-of-year celebrations. Last year, a car was burned, and several bus shelters were damaged, leading to 24 arrests on New Year’s Eve to prevent further trouble. Police chief Filip Rasschaert expressed concerns about potential vandalism, violence, and harassment of emergency services, and he has called for stricter rules on fireworks sales.

Will Ghent’s temporary cameras effectively deter fireworks vandalism after 24 arrests?

Cameras will be installed in areas where problems have occurred in the past to help identify offenders. They can zoom in on faces and license plates, and those could face fines of up to 350 euros or legal action. The cameras will be placed in Bloemekenswik, Ledeberg, and Meulestede, with a new one on Tolhuislaan. A nuisance camera in Rabot will stay until January 15, but there won’t be a camera in Nieuw Gent this year.

The city needs to approve the police’s request for cameras, but that’s just a formality. In Ghent, fireworks are banned from October to January, except for New Year’s Eve from midnight to 1 a.m. with permission. Bombs and wish balloons are always banned. Some people still use fireworks, so Ghent made a film to show the dangers and held training for 350 young people. They also visited 13 homes to warn past offenders.


Comments

4 responses to “Ghent Police Deploy Cameras to Tackle Fireworks Vandalism Following 24 Arrests”

  1. Lady In Red Avatar
    Lady In Red

    Ah, the Ghent Police have wisely turned to the wonders of modern technology to combat the age-old tradition of fireworks vandalism—because nothing says “We trust you” quite like a camera in your face while you’re trying to enjoy a bit of mischief. Perhaps next, they’ll consider deploying a time machine to send those 24 arrested back to the moment they thought it was a brilliant idea to turn the night sky into a mini war zone—what a proper waste of a good evening!

  2. Jack Cassidy Avatar
    Jack Cassidy

    Ah, the Ghent Police have finally cracked the case of the rogue firework enthusiasts with their state-of-the-art spy cameras — because clearly, nothing says “we trust our citizens” quite like a good old-fashioned surveillance state. Let’s just hope the fireworks show doesn’t turn into an episode of “Cops: Belgian Edition”! With 24 arrests already under their belt, it seems the only thing bursting around here is their sense of humor.

  3. Spellbinder Avatar
    Spellbinder

    Ah, the Ghent Police – deploying cameras to tackle fireworks vandalism because who needs a good old-fashioned chat about civility when you can just throw up a few lenses? Clearly, nothing says “Happy New Year” quite like being surveilled while you bombard your neighbors with aerial pyrotechnics. But hey, at least they’re catching more than the usual “pint of lager” crowd, right?

  4. Zorkle Sporkle Avatar
    Zorkle Sporkle

    Well, it seems the Ghent Police have finally decided that a few strategically placed cameras will solve the age-old dilemma of unruly fireworks enthusiasts—because who needs a good chat over a pint about respect for public property when you can just watch them on a screen, right? With 24 arrests already in the bag, one can only assume the fireworks display is now officially a spectator sport—grab your popcorn, folks!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

King Charles to Continue US Visit Amid Security Concerns

King Charles to Continue US Visit Amid Security Concerns

China’s commerce ministry cautions Brussels that Beijing “will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard” the interests of Chinese enterprises and individuals affected by the 20th sanctions package.

Read More

Financial Calendar Modification – Fiscal Year 2025/2026

Financial Calendar Modification – Fiscal Year 2025/2026

RÉGLEMENTARY INFORMATIONApril 21, 2026
Press Release
Change in Financial Calendar
Fiscal Year 2025/2026
Ascencio announces a change in its financial calendar regarding the publication date of its semi-annual results for the fiscal year 2025/2026.
This is moved up to Monday, May 18, 2026, instead of Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
New Financial Calendar

Semi-Annual Financial Report as of March 31, 2026M

Read More

Iran’s Foreign Minister Returns to Pakistan Amid Uncertainty Over Peace Talks

Iran’s Foreign Minister Returns to Pakistan Amid Uncertainty Over Peace Talks

China’s commerce ministry cautions Brussels that it “will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard” the interests of Chinese companies and individuals affected by the 20th sanctions package.

Read More

Yemenis are ‘hanging by a thread,’ top aid official warns Security Council

Yemenis are ‘hanging by a thread,’ top aid official warns Security Council

The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran remains intact after over a month of strikes and counterstrikes in the Gulf region, with the Houthi movement’s military wing launching attacks against Israel in late March.
Tensions from this and prior regional conflicts have long affected maritime security. The Council adopted resolution 2722 (2024) two years ago following the Israel-Ham

Read More

Magyar from Hungary Heads to Brussels for EU Funds Talks

Magyar from Hungary Heads to Brussels for EU Funds Talks

China’s commerce ministry alerts Brussels that Beijing “will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard” the interests of Chinese companies and individuals included in the 20th sanctions package.

Read More

Scientists Rush to Uncover Microplastics’ Health Risks

Scientists Rush to Uncover Microplastics’ Health Risks

In the summer of 2023, Utrecht’s Wilhelmina Park featured volunteers cycling on stationary exercise bikes as part of a scientific study. The goal was to examine the body’s reaction to pollution by analyzing changes in cyclists’ blood caused by exposure to microplastics in the air. These microplastics, which come from sources like tire wear and plastic decomposition, are prevalent glob

Read More

Elephant Trunk Inspires Universal Robot Gripper

Elephant Trunk Inspires Universal Robot Gripper

Lucia Beccai, a soft robotics expert at the Italian Institute of Technology, was inspired by elephants’ trunks while watching a documentary. Impressed by the trunks’ ability to handle tasks ranging from picking a leaf to moving logs, she envisioned robots that emulate these capabilities. This would transform robotic object handling, useful in domestic tasks and search and rescue oper

Read More

‘Violence has no place’: EU leaders condemn attack at Trump dinner

‘Violence has no place’: EU leaders condemn attack at Trump dinner

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized that “political violence has no place in a democracy,” highlighting that an event intended to celebrate a free press “should never become a scene of fear.”
National leaders shared similar messages.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his shock at the incidents in Washington, stating that any attack on democratic institutions and press freedom i

Read More

What Happened to Zahra Ghanbari, Captain of the Iranian Team?

What Happened to Zahra Ghanbari, Captain of the Iranian Team?

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – 2023/11/01: The Islamic Republic of Iran’s women’s football team poses for a group photo during the 2024 AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament Round 2 Group A match between the Philippines and the Islamic Republic of Iran at Perth Rectangular Stadium. Final score; Philippines 1:0 Islamic Republic of Iran. (Photo by Luis Veniegra/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett

Read More

Iranian Foreign Minister Visits Pakistan for Peace Talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Visits Pakistan for Peace Talks

Araghchi mentioned in a previous post that he plans to visit Muscat, Oman, and Moscow to discuss regional developments.
Pakistan has played a mediating role between Tehran and Washington, which have been at war since late February after the U.S., alongside Israel, launched a military operation against Iran. A provisional ceasefire was reached between the U.S. and Iran, with Pakistan’s mediat

Read More