Although there was a ban on lighting fireworks in the entire Meetjesland Centrum police zone, the police had to be on the road more than once. “We have received a lot of reports about fireworks being set off,” says Emmelien Martens of the Meetjesland Center zone.
“We have been on site each time, but such reports are difficult to detect. It’s a bit of mopping with the tap open. However, in the Sint-Laureinsesteenweg in Eeklo we quickly found the fireworks maker. However, they were able to escape, although some fireworks, including Roman candles, were confiscated there. Fortunately, the rest remained quiet.”
Scooter
It was no different in the Evergem-Assenede police zone. “We also received reports about fireworks being set off,” says Commissioner Eddy De Fruyt. “However, we were also unable to make any effective findings. In the early evening there were three fireworks reports in the Langerbrugge region. Someone was driving around on a scooter and setting off some fireworks here and there. Towards the end of the year, four more reports were received from the Doornzeledries in Evergem and one from Oosteeklo. However, no GAS fines were issued.” In Assenede, the fire brigade had to intervene briefly when some smoke came from an electrical socket.
In Maldegem, mayor Koenraad de Ceuninck (CD&V) also looks back with satisfaction on a quiet night. “In Lievegem we experienced the normal crowds that we also experience on New Year’s Eve in other years. Unfortunately, several fights were again reported in the area of the N9 regional road,” concludes Mayor Kim Martens (CD&V Plus). ( emt)
