Prosecutor: 2023 dominated by protests & explosives; Fewer murders, more thefts

The past year was characterized by demonstrations by climate activists and farmers, as well as an “alarming” increase in incidents involving explosives, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) said in its annual report. There were fewer cases of violent crimes like murder, manslaughter, and assault, and more theft-related crimes like shoplifting and pickpocketing.

The number of murder and manslaughter cases, including attempts thereto, decreased by 10 percent. Threats dropped by 9 percent, assaults by 5 percent, burglaries by 7 percent, and armed robberies by 19 percent. On the other hand, shoplifting cases increased 12 percent, there were 5 percent more moped and bicycle thefts, and 20 percent more pickpocketing cases.

In 2023, the OM handled over 300,000 criminal cases, including 177,900 new ones - a slight decrease compared to the previous year. The number of criminal cases completed increased to 195,000. The average processing time for more serious cases decreased, while that for less major cases increased slightly.

“The fact that our colleagues were able to handle 195,000 criminal cases last year is an achievement for which they cannot receive enough appreciation,” said Rinus Otte, chairman of the Board of Attorneys General. He pointed out that prosecutors work under an extremely high workload and an IT system that persistently gives problems. Many also live with extra security due to threats against them.

The OM paid a lot of attention to fighting organized crime and active criminal organizations last year, conducting 2,426 new and ongoing investigations. According to the OM, organized drug crime has a strong international orientation, but its effects are visible locally, such as the many explosives that were set off in the country last year.

There were around 900 incidents involving explosives last year. The authorities linked most of these to conflicts in the drug circuit. But the OM noted that there also seems to be more copycat behavior. The authorities noted cases in which explosives were set off in a neighbor quarrel, relational conflicts, or business conflicts.

The OM also invested heavily in fighting cybercrime last year and will continue to do so this year. “Characteristically, investigations into cybercrime are becoming increasingly complex due to rapid technological developments and their cross-border nature, which requires international cooperation,” the OM said.