After the murders of the brother, lawyer and confidant of the key witness in the Marengo trial, former Minister of Justice and Security Grapperhaus asked the Dutch Safety Board in 2021 to investigate what lessons can be learned from the security situations of these three persons. Today the Dutch Safety Board presented the investigation report and recommendations.
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“The horrific murders of Reduan, Derk Wiersum and Peter R. de Vries are etched in our memory. The Netherlands was startled by the actions of ruthless criminals. It is important that reparation is made for the next of kin by prosecuting the perpetrators and through this investigation clarifying the period leading up to the three murders.”
said Minister of Justice and Security Yesilgöz-Zegerius.
In recent years, the government has already implemented major improvements and made investments to strengthen the system of surveillance and security and make it future-proof. The increased threat, specifically from the organized crime, means that the number of people and objects that are intensively monitored and secured for a long period of time – sometimes even many years – has increased considerably. That is why millions have been invested since 2021 so that there is more capacity to monitor and protect people, the person to be protected is now more central and tailor-made security measures are being developed.
The government thanks the Dutch Safety Board for the thorough analysis and recommendations and endorses the urgency expressed by the investigation report. The increased threat, permanent pressure on the system to monitor and secure and the recommendations of the Dutch Safety Board will all have to lead to further reform of the system.