Two Drenthe employees of the North Netherlands police have been fired for ‘serious dereliction of duty’ outside duty. This is not about acting while on duty. Both things are independent of each other.
In June last year, the Safety, Integrity and Complaints team (VIK) was commissioned to investigate the behavior of an employee in a relationship. The second study began in November last year. There it concerned a suspicion of serious dereliction of duty in the private sphere.
Both investigations revealed that the employees were guilty of ‘serious dereliction of duty’. According to the police, the “nature and seriousness of the conduct” made unconditional discharge the only option. Both employees were no longer employed during the investigation.
Police officers are also expected to behave in a socially responsible and morally irreproachable manner during their private time. “Dereliction of duty has consequences. The police therefore carefully investigate reports of serious neglect of duty and punish where necessary.”