Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Police
Police - Credit: Photo: Politie
Crime
neighborhood watch
police
gangs
violence
ACP
Erwin Koenen
Kootwijkerbroek
Tuesday, 21 February 2017 - 13:55
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Police union concerned over gang-like neighborhood watch groups

Police union ACP is worried that some of the neighborhood watch groups in the Netherlands are taking on a threatening gang-like character, vice president Erwin Koenen said to ANP. Using violence is the "monopoly of the police", and such groups undermine that, he said.

According to him, cooperation between the police and neighborhood watch groups is a good thing, but there has to be limits. "That the police cooperates with citizens who act as eyes and ears for the police is very relevant. There are plenty of positive examples." he said, but added: "Such a neighborhood watch group may legitimize its actions and possibly use violence on the grounds that they cooperate with the police, while that definitely does not justify it."

As an example the union mentions Kootwijkerbroek, where a neighborhood watch actively searches or burglars using professional equipment, dogs and helicopters. "A group of citizens who chase suspects and then start using violence, is unacceptable."

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Philips restructuring: Massive layoffs and recall of sleep apnea devices
  • Police officer injured after being dragged more than 300 meters by car
  • Extinction Rebellion protest: 768 arrests made and 725 activists released
  • League leaders Feyenoord drop points away to FC Twente
  • Hundreds of people attend Holocaust memorial in Amsterdam
  • Housing corporations want more direction from de Jonge to help solve housing crisis

Top stories

  • Dutch royal family under fire for “caricature insensitivity”
  • Prime Minister Mark Rutte will speak at Holocaust commemoration
  • A12 open again after Extinction Rebellion protest, more than 500 people arrested
  • Police intervenes Extinction Rebellion protest on A12; Dozens of people arrested
  • Rutte lashes out at left wing parties in election campaign interview
  • Netherlands and the US agree on export restriction of ASML chip machines

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content