Municipality invests in security around Parkstad Limburg Stadium; over 30 rioters identified

On December 11, the general suspension for allowing away spectators at Roda JC matches at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion (PLS) expires. This comes after the municipality invested in additional security measures around the PLS and Roda Boulevard over the past period. The measures are intended to better maintain public order and improve physical security around soccer matches.

Also, since mid-October, police and the judiciary have identified more than 30 individuals who have been found guilty of violence and extreme aggression around Roda JC soccer matches.

Appropriate measures have been taken against these individuals as part of the person-centered approach (PGA), such as: a stadium ban, an environmental ban, a formal warning, or a cautionary conversation with police in the presence of parents.

At the PGA, police, the justice system and the municipality work together with the BVO (Professional Soccer Organization) to prevent people from continuing to cause problems. The goal is to crack down harder on people who misbehave around soccer matches. The measure stems from a number of recent, serious disturbances involving a small section of Roda JC's supporters.

Time-out

In mid-October, in response to these incidents, the local triangle (consisting of police, prosecutor and mayor) decided not to allow away supporters into the PLS until December 11.

The past period has been used to work on physical security in and around the PLS stadium. With this, the municipality hopes to catch violent offenders and vandals more easily in the future. For example, camera surveillance in and around the Parkstad Limburg Stadium has been expanded and existing cameras are being replaced with more advanced equipment. In addition, the lighting on the Rodaboulevard is being improved.

There will also eventually be modifications to the PLS entrance gates and mobile fencing.

Powerful signal

With the decision to temporarily ban spectators of the visiting club from the PLS and with the measures taken in terms of physical security and person-oriented approach, the authorities wanted to send a strong signal to society Mayor Petra Dassen: "Violence around soccer matches will never, ever be tolerated. Only by tracking down and tackling the group responsible for these disturbances do we hope to finally put a stop to this violence. The person-centered approach we have deployed for this as well as the measures we have taken should lead to offenders being caught faster, but also punished more severely."

Roda JC supports tackling the rioters. The club hopes that in this way the good do not suffer under the bad. Both the soccer club and the municipality hope that well-intentioned and right-thinking supporters will again be able to enjoy soccer and their club in a safe and pleasant manner.