“TOUGHER APPROACH TO FOOTBALL HOOLIGANISM AND NUISANCE” 

Football Hooligans in Holland should from now on put the Country off their list of safe heaven Countries, because the Government is determined to stamp out this nuisance through tougher response when the need arises.   The Mayors and  Judiciary authorities have been given extra powers to intervene in a more tougher manner in order to stop or prevent football hooliganism and nuisance in the Country.  The need for a tougher approach to Sports hooliganism and nuisance is contained in the bill agreed upon by Minister Ter Horst of Foreign Affairs  and Minister Hirsch Ballin of Justice.  In the bill, both Ministers also incorporated the important concerns of parliament.  When the bill is finally passed into law, it would also be applied in cases of public property destruction, aggression toward homo’s, radical animal rights activism and intimidation of witnesses in punishable offences.  Mayors received from the new bill  extra powers to intervene by issuing to offenders 3 months maximum entry restriction to certain areas or a compulsory registration point visits in case of repeatedly public disorder, nuisance and public property destruction.  Further, Judiciary authorities got extra powers to recommend to offenders the following : therapy and treatment against aggression or addiction, restriction of contact with witnesses in punishable offences, entry restrictions to certain areas and compulsory registration point visits.  On the local level, the Mayors and Judiciary authorities should work out who should act in which circumstance.  The new bill has already received the blessing of the Cabinet and would now be sent to the State Advisory Council. Full content of the bill and advice of the State Advisory Council would be made public during presentation to the House.