News item | 07-11-2022 | 9:00 am
Tackling organized crime requires continuous innovation
The confiscation of criminal money appeals to the imagination. Come on the money and you hit the criminal in the heart. More and more criminal money is being taken, but what does that mean exactly? According to Arthur Buitenhek (FIOD), Anita van Dis (OM) and Bob Hoogenboom (Nyenrode), it is not only about the kilos, guys and knacks – the quantity – but also about the cooperation between parties that fight against criminal money – the quality, they tell in Vizier on organized crime.
Enlarge Image
In Vizier on Organized Crime, experts from within and outside the government have their say: how do they see the approach to organized crime so far, what interpretation do they give it and which elements are important to them to tackle, looking ahead to the coming period of time. Vizier appears in imitation of the Autumn Letter on organized, subversive crime.
The time for looking away is over. Organized crime is a big problem. Also in our country. It is a many-headed monster that we must fight with fire and sword. This happens with united forces, as is observed in Vizier. They work together to prevent and disrupt organized crime. And to punish the perpetrators and to protect victims and society.
It is emphasized that tackling organized crime takes a long time. There are no quick results and it is often difficult to express achieved results in hard figures.
Hanne Buis, member of the Executive Board of Royal Schiphol Group:
‘Unfortunately, an undermining campaign is not a fireworks campaign. After a while we can’t say: look, there is now 10 percent less eye damage due to our actions. And yet we facilitate the government as much as possible in its fight against organized crime. Cooperation is paramount in this, as we are used to in the fight against terrorism. We develop disaster plans there and we adjust them based on the most current threat assessment for the airport from the NCTV. I call that foreshadowing: thinking about problems before they arise.’
The approach to organized crime is based on evidence where possible and based on scientific recommendations. But even then it is not always clear what will work best in practice and that practice is subject to continuous change. That is why parties in Vizier emphasize the importance of remaining flexible, continuing to respond to the changing working methods of criminals and continuing to learn from the successes and the things that do not go as hoped or intended. Only in this way is it possible to continue to strengthen and expand the fight against organized crime.
Hanneke Ekelmans, member of the National Police Force Command:
“We were able to intercept millions of encrypted messages. This allows us to go after criminals in a very different way than before. At the same time, we continue to investigate how the underworld gets a grip on the upper world, because we cannot dwell too long on a achieved success. Tackling organized crime requires continuous innovation.’