News item | 07-01-2025 | 08:00
New campaign to jointly combat undermining crime
On January 13, the public campaign ‘Strange or suspicious?’ starts. This initiative by the Ministry of Justice and Security and the police is intended to increase the awareness of Dutch people about organized subversive crime and to involve them more actively in the fight against it. Through various expressions on TV and online, people discover how they can recognize signals of criminal activity and what they can do themselves. In this way, neighborhoods and neighborhoods become safer and stronger. The campaign, directed by Achmed Akkabi, is the first under the new umbrella ‘Keep crime out of your neighborhood’, in which the police, the judiciary, municipalities and other parties have united. This campaign is an important step in increasing citizen involvement in the fight against subversion.
World of organized crime
The urgency is great: shootings, drug waste in nature reserves and explosions in residential areas. If it comes close, it comes close. Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel about the importance of the new campaign:
“Criminals don’t care about others, as is evident from the drug labs that are exploding in the middle of residential areas. But citizens can do something themselves. They are often the first to notice that something is wrong in their neighborhood. They can recognize these situations and keep crime out of their neighborhood by, for example, reporting them to the police or other authorities, sharing suspicions with each other, or starting a conversation. Don’t forget: well-intentioned citizens outnumber criminals.”
Reporting suspicious behavior
A simple house with a remarkable amount of camera security, a renovation in which large boilers and barrels are lugged in, someone who suddenly has all kinds of expensive things – these are examples that are zoomed in on in the three TV commercials. All situations that are not strange, but suspicious. The campaign also consists of online banners, a campaign website and interactive social media stories, in which the emphasis is on identifying suspicious behavior that may indicate undermining crime and what you can do next. next steps as mentioned on the campaign site, for example, contacting neighbors, the local police officer or police, Report Crime Anonymous, trade organizations, the municipality or confidential counselors. If it concerns someone you know, it is good to talk to a confidant or the person themselves.
Important part
Hanneke Ekelmans, responsible for the subversion portfolio at the Police Department, about involving citizens and companies:
“We can all contribute something to safety. This campaign shows that everyone, regardless of who you are or where you live, can make a difference. Do you see something suspicious? Report it. Then the police can act quickly and prevent crime. With With the help of the community, we can tackle criminal networks together and make our neighborhoods safer. By recognizing and responding to suspicious signals, we as a society are stronger against crime.”
About the campaign
‘Strange or suspicious?’ is the first campaign under the new umbrella ‘Keep crime away from you‘. At the initiative of the Ministry of Justice and Security and the police, a broad communication and campaign approach has been developed to increase the urgency and involvement of Dutch people in combating organized, undermining crime. Joeri Jansen on behalf of the makers:
“The commercials were directed by Achmed Akkabi, known for series such as Mocro Mafia, in which he made it clear that taking a criminal path will end badly for you. Achmed has once again cast a very diverse group for this project. In research we saw that people were touched by the realistic nature of the scenes and the recognition of current themes. This combination creates more awareness of the impact of subversive crime.”
On the campaign site Houdmisdaaduitjebuurt.nl, people can read more about how you can recognize suspicious situations and what you can do to keep crime out of your neighborhood.