Antwerp (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): In Antwerp, three young men stole an ambulance for fun, prompting police action. Mayor De Wever links rising violence against emergency workers to youth lacking opportunities and calls for stricter measures.
In Luchtbal, Antwerp, three young guys stole an ambulance last weekend just for fun while the paramedics were busy. The police now know who the two of them are and looking for one more person who was with them and two others who filmed it. Mayor De Wever said on the radio that this kind of thing is happening more often, with more violence and bad behavior towards people who work for the government, like ambulance drivers and firefighters.
What measures can address youth misbehavior in Antwerp?
De Wever says there’s a specific group of young people causing problems. These are mostly young immigrants from non-European backgrounds who don’t have many chances in life. He mentions that many of them are known to the police because of their bad behavior. He thinks the issue starts with how we handle immigration, letting in people without good opportunities, which leads to tough living situations. To help, he wants to set up programs where 3rd-grade students can work in places like city maintenance or nursing homes for a week during their last two years of high school.
De Wever wants young people to learn to respect those who keep the city clean, but he’s unsure if this will work since some have already left school. He thinks the justice system should be stricter and needs more resources to handle bad behavior. In Antwerp, they are trying to deal with rude behavior by checking IDs in busy areas, keeping known troublemakers at home on New Year’s Eve, and allowing fines for misbehavior.
It has been said that it is important for young people to avoid misbehavior and have better opportunities in life. The city is collaborating with schools and social services to support fifty young people each year through the KOMPAS+ project, helping them stay on the right track. They mentioned that more investment is needed to develop their potential, especially since they face challenges like all young people do. While social considerations are important, strong actions in the justice system are also necessary when boundaries are crossed. The responsibility lies in ensuring the safety of the community.
