Fighting aggression against public service employees

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Public service employees in the Netherlands face aggression and violence on the streets more and more often. Onlookers unfortunately do not intervene often enough when they encounter a situation like this. A live interactive billboard in Amsterdam and Rotterdam is used to place people in a similar situation witch confronts them with their inactivity.

This huge billboard has been placed on the Rembrandtplein in Amsterdam recently, an area with many bars and cafés that are busy and very populated. According to many media reports, there has been an increase of violence against public service employees such as tram and bus drivers, but also, as shown in the film, paramedics.

I think it’s safe to say that many people do not know what to do when they are confronted with violence besides calling the emergency number 112 and/or running away. Intervening physically or verbally will get you hurt, as there have been enough stabbings and deaths related to trying to stop violence. It’s also much easier to snap a picture with your mobile phone, but no one wants to get caught doing that if their flash goes off.

Yes, it is sad that people have been known to do nothing, but again, although I have intervened and called 112, I wouldn’t do it either if I were to get beaten for it.

(Link tip, thanks AJ!)

1 Comment »

  1. […] talked about this kind of advert before and it’s not news, but it is a form of violence that seems to mystify people. The bits […]

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