Sharp rise in crime suspects held without charge

Some 17,600 crime suspects received compensation in 2015 because they were detained without charges being pressed or suffered damage while in custody. That is an increase of 3,300 compared to 2014 and a 13 thousand increase compared to 2004. In total about 28 million euros in compensation was paid last year, according to Statistics Netherlands. The courts received some 18,700 requests for compensation due to wrongful detention or unjustified costs. 94 percent of those requests were granted. In 2014 the courts granted 86 percent of compensation requests. The average amount in compensation paid out was 1,584 euros. In 2007 the average was nearly 3,500 euros. The statistics office does not give an explanation for the decrease. A former crime suspect can ask for compensation if he was detained and no charges were ever pressed. He can also get compensation for unjustified consts incurred, including costs like travel expenses, lost income and costs of a lawyer. Of the nearly 28 million euros paid out last year, 63 percent was awarded as compensation for unjustified costs and 37 percent for wrongful detention. According to Maarten Bloem of the statistics office, the increase in compensation claims can be attributed to the fact that suspects are arrested more quickly than before, especially in minor offenses. "If it does not come to a conviction, those people are entitled to compensation", he said to newspaper AD. According to the Judiciary Council, the Public Prosecutor is increasingly demanding that suspects be held in custody due to the political and social views on a tougher approach to crime, a spokesperson said to the newspaper.