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!

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