Police Chief warns of longer emergency response times amid staffing shortages
Dutch police chief Janny Knol has warned that citizens in emergency situations may face longer response times due to severe staffing shortages and shifting priorities in combating crime. Knol raised the concern in an end-of-year interview with De Telegraaf, highlighting the impact of increasing demands on law enforcement in 2024.
Knol attributed the delays to a combination of resource constraints and the growing complexity of criminal activity. “We must balance urgent needs with limited capacity,” Knol said. “Certain tasks will have to be deprioritized to focus on critical incidents.”
“In 2021, there were 212 explosions. This year, we’ve surpassed 1,000,” Knol said. “It’s horrifying that so many innocent civilians have been affected, and some have even died. Despite these challenges, I am incredibly proud of our swift arrests following incidents like the one in The Hague.”
The explosion in The Hague is believed to have stemmed from a personal dispute rather than organized crime, underscoring the diverse motives behind such attacks.
Knol further highlighted the role of organized crime in fueling violence across the country. Police have arrested approximately 500 suspects linked to explosive attacks this year but warned that these individuals are often easily replaced.
“We need to look beyond arrests. Questions around prevention and legislation, such as how explosives enter the country, must be addressed,” Knol said. She also stressed the importance of targeting youth recruitment by organized crime networks.
The Dutch government has responded by establishing a task force to tackle explosives-related crime, chaired by Carola Schouten. Although the initiative was launched in October, Knol acknowledged criticism that authorities had been slow to act, despite signs of escalating violence as early as 2021. “Looking back, we could have acted sooner, but I am grateful for the task force and the collective effort it represents,” Knol said.
Knol also warned that the staffing shortage would likely affect response times for emergency calls. While emergency assistance has remained a top priority, she said, “We must move away from the fixation on immediate response times. Local police work involves more than just handling incidents.”
Knol pointed to evolving threats such as cybercrime, youth involvement in criminal activities, and foreign interference as major challenges for law enforcement.
“Nearly 44 percent of crime victims are now affected by online crime,” Knol said, adding that the digital domain presents a “moral vacuum” that particularly ensnares young people.
To combat these issues, Knol emphasized the need for both preventive and investigative measures, such as monitoring open social media platforms and accessing encrypted communication channels under new legislation currently under consideration.
Knol also highlighted the risks posed by foreign actors, including espionage and sabotage. She revealed that the Dutch police organization faces daily cyberattacks and announced plans to establish a new counterespionage team within the National Criminal Investigation Department.
Knol also described the police force as overstretched, citing a combination of public demonstrations, major incidents, and regular law enforcement duties. “Our officers are under immense pressure,” she said. “During the explosion in The Hague, mobile units initially scheduled for a Gaza demonstration had to be redirected to the scene, and later that same day, they were deployed at a soccer match.”
The police are currently short by at least 1,800 officers, with the shortage primarily driven by an aging workforce. Knol called for creative solutions, such as delegating minor tasks to local enforcement officers (BOAs) or other service providers.“Demonstrations are a core responsibility for us, but when we’re there to maintain peace, we’re not available elsewhere,” she explained.
