A man from Etten-Leur who instituted summary proceedings to prevent eviction after drugs were found in his home must still leave his home, BN/De Stem reports. The Breda judge ruled in favor of the housing corporation Alwel on Wednesday, despite the fact that the neighbors of this Ruud van N. thought that the man should stay because he does not cause an unsafe situation. In the Netherlands, there is criticism of the practice of rapid eviction by municipalities of petty criminals in a vulnerable position.
summary proceedings
A considerable amount of speed and GHB was found in Van N.’s house on 3 July, as well as weapons, including a taser and a gas canister. After that, the mayor of Etten-Leur decided to close the house on August 25 for three months. Van N.’s lawyer, Peter Schouten, initiated summary proceedings. On October 4, the rental property will now be sealed.
litigate
Lawyer Schouten says, if necessary, to litigate up to the European Court because he thinks it is a matter of principle. He states, among other things, that the mayor wrongly shared secret information from the police file with the housing corporation.
He first lodges an objection with an independent advisory committee for objections. He can also go to court and to the Council of State.
Schouten also believes that the mayor ‘should be ashamed’ because in this way she ensures that a vulnerable addicted man who suffers from mental disorders is put on the street. Van N. has been waiting for a recording for more than thirty weeks.
Petition
The municipality has not conducted a neighborhood investigation into the unsafe situation. It is known that 27 neighbors of Van N. have signed a petition in which they show their support for their neighbor.
There is also a criminal case against Van N..
Since the introduction of an amendment to the Opium Act (the so-called Damocles Act), the municipality has been able to evict the homes of people who have committed a relatively minor drug offence. When this happened continuously without a judge being involved, the Council of State set stricter conditions for deportation, but it still happens regularly.
The frequent evictions are widely criticized because homeless delinquents would fall more quickly into crime, and because people like Ruud van N. actually need psychological assistance. The police are overburdened by such persons, who need mental care and at the same time exhibit nuisance or criminal behaviour.
See:
‘Suspect caught three times due to eviction’
