Everyone who is arrested in East Brabant goes to the cell complex of the police station in Den Bosch or Eindhoven. There is a special police team ready to take care of the suspects. “Detainees have rights, but we work with house rules that they must adhere to,” says detainee care worker Milan.
As soon as a suspect enters the cell complex, the work for a detention officer begins. First, Milan searches the suspect and all his belongings are taken into custody.
“As a suspect, you are not allowed to take anything into your cell. Of course no telephone or knife, but we also temporarily store your belt, jewelery and shoelaces. For their and our safety,” says Milan.
After a night in the cell, all detainees are woken up at seven so that they can take a shower. “Sometimes suspects are only arrested in the middle of the night and placed in a cell. Or people have a morning mood. Then it is annoying that we are knocking on your door so early,” says Milan. “But then our working day has begun.”
“You don’t have to pamper detainees.”
First, the detainees get the chance to shower, brush their teeth and possibly take their medication. Then they have breakfast in their cell. Through the hatch they receive a cardboard plate with two sandwiches, a slice of cheese or chicken fillet, a tub of butter and a drink.
“You don’t have to pamper them, but you have to offer them the care they need,” says Milan. “I treat everyone as a human being and not as a suspect. I don’t care why someone is in jail. For me it is much more important to know if someone is aggressive or possibly has an infectious disease.”
“Behind every door is someone with a different story.”
Milan not only arranges the basic necessities of life, but also contact with a family member, lawyer and other professionals. It is rush hour from nine o’clock.
“You are constantly switching. Detainees have the right to contact their lawyer, so the door is always open for them. In the meantime, you are busy bringing suspects to police interrogations, you ensure that everyone is allowed to go to the airport twice a day and then it is also a coming and going of detainees,” says Milan.
Due to the varied tasks and the diversity of detainees, no day is the same in the cell complex. “Behind every door is someone with a different story. We have detainees who hardly need our care and who remain calm in their cells,” says the police officer. “But we also have people with psychological complaints and addictions. Then you sometimes have to deal with aggression and you suddenly end up in a fight.”
“I hope they never come back.”
A suspect is held in a police cell for a maximum of six days. Sometimes the detainees never see someone again, but they also have ‘regular guests’ in their ‘special hotel’.
“I try to give all detainees a bit of education while they are here. Of course, you do that differently with a 15-year-old than with a seasoned criminal,” says the detention officer. “Ultimately, I hope they all never come back.”
Milan is not his real name. A different name has been used for privacy reasons. His real name is known to the editors.