Anti-dagga board stolen
2006-02-02 21:26
Amsterdam - The first signboard banning the smoking of cannabis in public on a notorious Amsterdam square has been stolen within hours of being erected, the authorities in the borough of De Baarsjes said on Thursday.
The board was erected on Mercator Square on Wednesday by the head of the local council, Henk van Waveren, amid countrywide publicity.
It shows a large funnel-shaped joint with cartoon-style stars of intoxication - and a line through.
Its erection followed complaints from locals about dope-smoking youths congregating on the square in a rundown part of Amsterdam-West with a large immigrant population of largely Moroccan and Turkish origin.
A theft charges has been laid with the police. "We suspect that it has become an instant collector's item and have ordered a whole new series," a spokesperson said.
The dope-smoking ban was approved by a large majority on the council in December. A fine of &euros;45 is imposed on youths older than 16 found in contravention. Those under 16 pay half.
The area is home to many "coffee shops", where cannabis can be consumed legally on the premises, although patrons have to be 18. -Sapa-dpa
- SAPA