That the Plan of Approach for the National Detectives was completed successfully (see related story) is good news. A lot of criticism has been levelled on local law enforcement particularly from The Hague and this can help address
some of the concerns expressed there.
Moreover, it involves the entity that deals with integrity crimes like corruption and the alleged infiltration of the “underworld” in the “upper-world” on which a few Dutch Members of Parliament (MPs) keep hammering. One of the reasons given up to recently for the lack of or delays in such investigations had been precisely the limited human resources in this department.
The Progress Committee noted that the National Detectives had to be built from “barely anything” at the end of 2010 after country status was obtained, which is a reality especially politicians in the Netherlands occasionally tend to overlook. That the unit is now apparently up to par, together with establishing a “Combating of Undermining Team” in St. Maarten headed by the new Kingdom Detective Cooperation Team RST Chief Martine Vis, should have a reassuring effect in that sense.
Things are notably different regarding the Police Force and the Pointe Blanche prison, both coping with serious personnel shortages that must be addressed urgently. Funding restrictions have and no doubt will continue to play a role. However, as pointed out in the latest progress report, it’s “not merely a matter of finances, but also of ambition, management and quality.”
The message is loud and clear. Priorities need to be set despite whatever budgetary challenges remain and these two issues ought to be among those topping the list.
In addition to money, external assistance based on constructive cooperation within the kingdom is seen as a necessity for improvement. The current Police Chief in Philipsburg is said to favour that approach, so all noses now at least seem pointed in the same direction.
