BOA
A BOA (special investigating officer) is an official with special investigative powers. This means that a BOA may investigate certain criminal offenses and supplement the police with his/her knowledge. Special investigating officers are deployed by the municipality to maintain safety in public spaces. And have an important role when it comes to enforcing the law and countering nuisance in order to improve livability through a welcoming approach.
The municipality of Gemert-Bakel employs both BOAs who specialize in public areas as well as BOAs who specialize in environmental and flora and fauna management, they are mostly deployed in the outlying area.
The BOA in public spaces (blue BOA).
This refers to the BOA working in Domain , recognizable by the blue uniform.
Some core activities of the BOA in public spaces are:
- Monitoring and enforcement of proper waste disposal
- Supervision and enforcement of stray dogs and dog waste
- Monitoring and enforcement of youth nuisance and hanging groups
- Supervision and enforcement of parking violations
- Monitoring and enforcement of bicycles in hiking areas
- Monitoring and enforcement of residential addresses
- Night register supervision and enforcement
- Alcohol law supervision and enforcement
- Fireworks nuisance monitoring and enforcement
- Supervision and enforcement of A.P.V. facts and other local ordinances
The BOA in the outlying area (green BOA).
This refers to the BOA working in Domain II, recognizable by the green uniform.
Some core activities of the BOA in public spaces are:
- Supervision and enforcement of Poaching
- Monitoring and enforcement of Fisheries Act control
- Monitoring and Enforcement of Illegal Bird Trapping.
- Supervision and enforcement of Illegal cross-country racing
- Supervision and enforcement of Waste dumping in the outlying area.
- Monitoring and Enforcement of Manure Discharges/Dumping.
- Monitoring and enforcement of Illegal tree and forest harvesting
- Monitoring and enforcement of illegal Waste Incineration
- Monitoring and enforcement of exotics (flora/fauna) in the outdoor area
Powers
As an investigating officer, the BOA may check identities, draw up official reports, issue warnings and fines, and stop people if they are suspected of committing a crime. In addition, BOAs have been designated as supervisors for a number of laws and regulations. To this end, they can use special powers, such as entering a site (without permission) or taking photographs.
Method of operation of BOAs
Gemert-Bakel has hospitality as a high priority. Our BOAs try to help, serve people and perform their duties as hospitably as possible to make it as pleasant as possible for everyone. Humanity and friendliness are paramount. Informing people, speaking to them and addressing them are part of this. Changing undesired behavior into desired behavior is an important principle.
Presence/accessibility
Our BOAs are recognizable by their blue or green uniform with enforcement logos. If you encounter a BOA in an unrecognizable uniform, they have identification badges to prove that they are a BOA of the municipality. They show these themselves, but you can always ask for them. The BOA travels on foot, by bicycle or by car. Our BOAs can be deployed 24 hours a day if the work demands it.
In addition to our permanent BOAs employed by our municipality, you may also encounter volunteer BOAs and students. Our municipality is committed to creating the BOAs of the future and therefore wants to provide good on-the-job supervision. If you ever have questions about this, please speak to the BOA.
How can I report something?
Our BOAs can be found primarily on the streets and can take your report if you speak to them. In this way, we can respond quickly and effectively to problems you experience. You can email your report to the municipality's general email address gemeente@gemert-bakel.nl.
Rather speak to someone?
For reports for enforcement, during business hours, please call 0492-378 500.
Outside office hours, please call 0900-8844, which is the general police number. They are in contact with our boas and can relay your report.
Do you have a report that relates to a company? Then call the Environmental Complaints Central 073-681 28 21. They collect all complaints about companies, noise and odor pollution for us.