Police chief wants more Dutch cops in international police missions

The Dutch police plans to extend its contribution to international police missions. National Police Chief Erik Akerboom wants to send dozens of extra police officers abroad in the coming years, he said in a statement on the police site on Friday.

"Crime does not stop at the borders, but is becoming increasingly international", Akerboom said. "A lot of crime originates outside the Netherlands. Whether it concerns organized crime, terrorism or cybercrime: these problems can only be tackled internationally. Instead of waiting for crime to come our way, it is more effective to strengthen the police in countries where it comes from. We therefore want to send out dozens of officers in the coming years."

The Dutch police have been participating in international missions for years, sending Dutch police officers to help reconstruct local police forces in various countries. Currently the Dutch police are participating in missions in Georgia, Kosovo, Libya, Mali, Eastern Ukraine and Somalia. Akerboom recently visited the EULEX mission in Kosovo.

"In our ideals everyone has the right to a safe and dignified existence", the police chief said. "That is why we, as an organization and as police officers also work for peace and stability elsewhere. Yet our reasons for participating in missions are not merely idealistic." The Netherlands also benefits from these missions, he emphasized. "A week ago I was in Kosovo and I saw colleagues at work in the EULEX mission. They help prevent us getting problems in the Netherlands. Because security problems such as terrorism, illegal migration, cybercrime and undermining often have an international component and often even a foreign source."

"The police heart increasingly beats over the border, and I am proud of that", Akerboom said. "We are helping to build institutions that prevent corruption, insecurity and organized crime and thus we contribute to the security in these countries and stability in other regions. We are also building intensive international police cooperation and an international police network."