News item | 16-04-2025 | 14:45
In 2024, 1543 (attempts to) attacks with explosives took place in the Netherlands. That is an increase of 71% compared to 2023. The offensive against explosions today presents the action plan that this increasing trend must turn. To achieve this, the Ministry of Justice and Security (JENV), the National Police, the Public Prosecution Service, Aedes (on behalf of the housing associations), Municipalities, the Association of Insurers, the probation organizations, VNO-NCW and MKB Nederland (on behalf of the business community) are joining forces. Together they take measures and interventions that focus on all facets of explosion violence: prevention, investigation and persecution, aftercare and local approach.
Carola Schouten, chairman of the offensive against explosions: “Nowhere in Europe are as many attacks are committed with heavy fireworks and explosives as in the Netherlands. The consequences are drastic: residents and neighbors are losing their sense of safety, buildings are badly damaged and the risks to public order are great. In some cases this has led to fatalities or serious physical injury. This requires a joint approach. a strong decrease in the number of explosions. “
Action plan
In the action plan of the offensive, the priorities for the coming period are laid down in the field of prevention, investigation and prosecution and aftercare and local approach. The offensive maintains a dynamic method in which the actions and measures are adjusted on the basis of what works and what does not work and based on new knowledge and insights. For the coming year, the goal is to reduce the number of attacks by at least 10%.
Prevention
The focus is on preventing attacks with measures that the source of implementers must reduce. For example, by making the often vulnerable potential performers with targeted communication more resilient against the temptations of the quick money. In this way the coaches of ‘Only you decide who you are’ are trained in the approach to explosives. ‘Only you decide who you are’ is a recognized behavioral intervention in which young people aged 10 to 18 are guided by trained trainers who act as a role model and mentor. These trainers will start workshops on young people on the subject of explosions at the end of April. The workshops will be given to around 5000 participants this year. Targeted communication is also used to increase the willingness to report people to prevent (repeat) explosions. For this, collaboration is made with Meld Misdaad Anonymous.
Investigation and prosecution
Police and the Public Prosecution Service even further in the investigation and prosecution after attacks and they are getting national control here so that all units can optimally focus on intelligence, investigation, disrupting and red -handed approach with regard to explosions. This national approach offers opportunities to act even more effectively towards criminal networks, including clients, brokers, facilitators and recruiters. At the same time, the focus is on disturbing the illegal market.
Aftercare and local approach
To strengthen the local approach to the explosion problem, an action framework for municipalities is being worked on. This framework deals with three phases: when there is a threat of an explosion, if an explosion has actually taken place and the aftercare for victims and the surrounding area. In this action framework, for example, the consequences of home closure and/or relocation of the target also get attention. Furthermore, for example, information material is developed (further) to distribute after an explosion. And it is explored the added value of an aftercare team (for example the local police officer, a municipal employee, a housing association officer or volunteers) that will go into the neighborhood shortly after the incident to provide aftercare. The Network Explosions has also been set up in municipalities to share best practices, where possible to make and distribute widely applicable.
European approach illegal fireworks
To tackle illegal production, transport and sale of heavy fireworks at the source, the Minister of JenV, together with the offensive, is committed to cooperation between European member states and for measures at European level. International cooperation is also increasingly intensified at the operational level. In March, for example, the National Police organized an international conference at Europol, where police delegations from 7 countries came together to talk about the cooperation about combating the streams heavily illegal fireworks and explosives in Europe.
David van Weel, Minister of Justice and Security: “The approach to attacks with explosives is complex, versatile and unruly and requires cooperation on all fronts: from prevention to prosecution, and from local to European approach. Heavy fireworks and explosives endanger lives. This must stop. I am very grateful to the offensive for the actions and measures that are affected and have the effectiveness of the effectiveness of the commitment in the effort and business in the effort in commitiveness. I have been committed to the effectiveness of the commitiveness. I am to have the effectiveness of the commitiveness in the commitiveness and business in the commitiveness. I am to have the effectiveness of the commitiveness in the commitiveness. I am to have the effectiveness of the commitiveness in the commitiveness in the effort in the commitiveness. I am to have the equipment of the commitiveness and. I am to have the effectiveness of the commitiveness and. I am. we can turn the tide together. “