1. Separate emergency help from collective follow-up
Do not arrange a confrontation between a victim and an alleged perpetrator. Once immediate danger has been addressed, propose that the municipality name a responsible contact, provide a safe reporting route and set out-of-hours procedures. Discuss support for the affected person confidentially and with regard to their needs.
2. Describe risks without a public personal file
Collective dialogue needs a description of the risk: missing lighting, staff availability, access control or unanswered reports. Even a date and room number may identify someone. Do not collect names, medical details or accusations in a shared spreadsheet; keep individual evidence in a secure channel for authorised people.
3. Request a written plan with named responsibilities
In publication 2026/052 of 24 April 2026, the National Ombudsman highlighted accessible contacts, resident participation and municipal complaint handling where management is outsourced. These are recommendations in a specific case, not a court judgment. Use them to propose a plan:
- Daytime and night-time contacts and an emergency route.
- Safe reporting of threats, violence or harassment.
- A responsible person and completion date for each measure.
- Clear resident information in the necessary languages.
- A joint review date without discussing personal case files.
4. Check implementation, not just promises
The residents’ council can keep a short list of open issues and completed measures without personal data. If no reply comes, ask the municipality to register the request and explain the complaint route. A proposed review date is a working agreement, not a universal statutory deadline.
FAQ
Do all residents need to sign?+
Proposing shared safety arrangements does not require disclosure of everyone’s personal story. State clearly whom you represent and do not claim support that has not been confirmed.