Report: Up to €300 million needed to finish police reorganization

The police will need between 250 million and 300 million euros extra to finish the reorganization into the National Police, according to a report accounting firm PWC sent to Minister Ard van der Steur of Security and Justice, RTL Nieuws reports. Erik Akerboom, the new chief of the National Police, is pleased that Van der Steur is recommending extra money for the police. "It is good that the minister had this research done. It makes clear that there is not enough money for daily police work", he said to NOS. Last year it became apparent that the police reorganization was already 230 million euros over budget. Insiders told RTL that more money is now needed to "ensure that the police are strengthened so that they can meet the demands imposed on them". PWC did not add the extra costs incurred by the police by dealing with the refugee crisis or additional terrorist threat. These two tasks together amounts to another 150 million euros. Van der Steur will send the report to the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, as soon as he and Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem can agree on where the extra money will come from.