The Dutch Safety Board (OVV) paints a shocking picture of the security of three key players around the key witness in the Marengo trial, Nabil B. Before his brother Reduan, lawyer Derk Wiersum and advisor Peter R. de Vries fell victim to an attack , there were indications that the crime was after their lives. It didn’t lead to the security measures that might have saved their lives.
Serious observation
According to the OVV, less importance was attached to the protection of the threatened persons than to the detection. That this consideration was made consciously is a very serious observation.
However, many things just went wrong. The report is a long list of errors and failures by the so-called Monitoring and Security system. This should consist of a meticulous collaboration between the Public Prosecution Service, the police, intelligence and security services and municipalities.
Asking for trouble
The fact that so many agencies have to come together to carry out such a difficult and important task is asking for problems. The current system has therefore proved unsuitable for the increasingly ruthless operating crime. It is certainly unprecedented for the relatives that three people had to die before that was determined.
The OVV recommends central management of surveillance and security. Better organization is not only necessary to prevent new victims. The criminals mainly target people who play a role in maintaining the rule of law in some way. If they give way to crime under pressure, the rule of law is at stake.
No doubt
Therefore, there should be no doubt that the State has the power to protect citizens who are threatened by getting in the way of criminals. It will not be easy, as the OVV report shows, to be able to guarantee this in the future. Justice Minister Dilan Yesilgöz faces the difficult job of getting that done.