Police undercover missions are at record levels

The number of police undercover missions are at a record high, with dozens of undercover officers deployed each year, AD reports based in figures retrieved through the Freedom of Information Act.

In 2011, 2012 and 2013 there were 55, 82 and 68 undercover missions respectively. Much higher than the 31 undercover operations of 2004, the only available comparison year. Undercover tactics were not only used in serious crime like murder, drug and trafficking cases. But also in more minor offenses, including fraud, extortion and money laundering.

In at least one murder case the police used the highly controversial and internationally criticized Mister Big method. In which suspects are lured into joining a fictional criminal organization. They're given well paid jobs and are then forced to confess their actions to the big boss, Mister Big, according to the newspaper.

The Mister Big method was used in 2014 in the murder of Heidy Goedhart from Kaatsheuvel. Last year the police were accused of manipulating a confession out of Goedhart's partner and main suspect Wim S.