Sharing info about criminals must be easier, Justice Min. says

It has to become easier to share information about criminals, regardless of strict privacy rules, Minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus of Justice and Security said to the Telegraaf in an interview. His comments were in response to Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb who also raised concerns about this issue.

“I know the wishes of mayors and Mr. Aboutaleb and I have the same opinion about that”, Grapperhaus said. He is currently awaiting advice from the Council of State on how to share information about suspects without violating legislation. “So much can still be gained with the exchange of information. It just can not infringe on privacy, then criminals will rely on errors.”

The Minister said that he will present a proposal to make the sharing of information about criminals and criminal activity a bit easier. The proposal should happen sometime this spring. “To put it in Rotterdam phrasing; no words, but actions. It is just a complicated process, you have to have good justification.”

While calling for a more intensified approach to drug trafficking earlier this week, Mayor Aboutaleb noted how difficult it is to share information about suspected criminals with other municipalities. He recently wanted to warn the mayor of Nissewaard of a criminal entrepreneur from Rotterdam who moved to Nissewaard. Aboutaleb had the man’s businesses in Rotterdam West searched and found a number of weapons. “I wanted to inform the mayor that the entrepreneur was now active there, but that is not allowed. It is strange that we can not exchange that information”, he said to the newspaper.