€280 million extra for police and security
Our security, freedoms and democratic rule of law are under threat. The government is responding to this by annually investing over €280 million extra in the police and cooperating organisations such as the Dutch Public Prosecution Service and the Netherlands Forensic Institute from 2025 onwards. That is the essence of a letter setting out a package of measures from Minister David van Weel (Justice and Security) sent to the House of Representatives today. The measures include additional investments in strengthening the police and tackling digital crime, organised crime and anti-Semitism.
Cybercrime
Tackling cybercrime calls for a single, centralised approach that creates more coherence by combining intelligence and operations. That in turn calls for people with specialist knowledge. The police will focus on recruiting lateral entry specialists to step up the fight against cybercrime.
Minister David van Weel (Justice and Security): "Criminals operate not only in the physical world but have also discovered a new illicit income model in the digital world. The government is investing a total of €52.6 million in tackling cybercrime and having that income model eliminated by the police and other parties. The police work is data-driven and does not stop at national borders: the digital world is boundless. That is why we are strengthening the police by introducing the High Tech Crime Team, for instance."
The NFI is also being strengthened by investing in digital crime investigation projects. That will intensify the forensics aspect of cybercrime and improve our clear-up rates in complex cases.
Organised subversive crime
Criminals use legitimate businesses and service providers to pursue their illegal activities. That blurs the line between the underworld and legitimate business, leading to unsafe situations. The government will therefore also be investing more in tackling organised subversive crime. Here, too, it is important to strengthen the police.
Van Weel: "Drug labs in the middle of residential areas, drug collectors in our seaports and criminals fighting feuds with explosives at front doors. Subversive organised crime shakes the very foundation of our democratic rule of law. Criminals threaten our society and the rule of law. These issues won't be solved overnight."
A sum of €62.8 million is being invested in tackling organised subversive crime and protecting the democratic rule of law.
Tackling anti-Semitism
The government is determined to stop anti-Semitism in its tracks. Jewish Dutch citizens, like everyone else in this country, should be able to express their identity without fear or misgivings. They should be able to wear a yarmulka on the street, have a mezuzah on the doorpost and go to the synagogue safely.
Van Weel: "Any expression of anti-Semitism detracts from the unity of our rule of law. The government will therefore be cracking down on perpetrators, supporting victims and doing all it can to prevent anti-Semitism. Jews must be able to live safely in the Netherlands, and we must protect them from the scourge of anti-Semitism. I am allocating a total of €4.5 million for this purpose."