justice

A disruption at telecommunications firm KPN which caused the inaccessibility of emergency phone number 1-1-2 was largely over, a company spokesperson told broadcaster NOS. The incident forced emergency services providers to scramble and quickly establish temporary solutions during the nearly four-hour disruption on Monday.

Negotiators for the VVD, CDA, D66 and GroenLinks talked about security, the judiciary and income disparities on Tuesday during the negotiations on forming a new Dutch government. On Wednesday they will continue to discuss security. Experts in the field of security and defense were invited to the morning negotiation session, Het Parool reports. 

"We talked about security. That is an important issue. We need to develop new ideas", D66 leader Alexander Pechtold said after Tuesday's negotiations. VVD negotiator Halbe Zijlstra added that income disparities were also on the table.

Some 312 asylum seekers in the Netherlands tried to take their own lives last year, according to figures released by the COA, the agency tasked with handling the reception of those seeking refuge. Another 369 also reportedly attempted “self-destructive actions” like self-mutilation or hunger strikes, the police department reported.

The Netherlands increased and strengthened border security in response to the terrorist attacks in Paris, France on Friday night. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced the move at a press conference following an emergency meeting of cabinet members.

The bordering nations of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany have agreed on a closer partnership in the fight against outlaw motorcycle gangs. The three countries intend to do a better job sharing information, and to change the way they work on the issue both administratively and in investigative procedures, newswire ANP reported.

MP’s from the Tweede Kamer, Lower House of Dutch Parliament, were warned via email about the potential dangers they may face when discussing issues related to asylum in public, according to AD. They were instructed to consult with security experts whenever scheduling an event regarding the topic.

Dutch King Willem-Alexander addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New Yorkby highlighting seventy years of the Netherlands work with the UN on achievements that have helped shape and improve today's world. In a speech where he strongly advocated for the Netherlands to get a seat on the UN Security Council, he also called upon all the nations of the world to show solidarity in the face of the current refugee crisis, noting that the Netherlands has again increased its contribution to humanitarian assistance making it one of the world’s largest donors.

Police in the Philippines arrested a Dutchman on charges of sexual abuse with two girls aged 10 and 14. Jouke "Jaap" M. was found naked with the "several children" at his home near Cagayan d'Or on the Filipino island of Mindanao, Dutch police reported, adding that his adult female partner was also taken into custody.

The Ministry of Security and Justice will begin using combinations of vitamin mineral supplements in the hopes of reducing aggression in convicted criminals. The ministry says the program has not been undertaken anywhere in the world, and is based on research suggesting additional fatty acids and food supplements can lead to a drop in exhibited aggressive behaviour, according to the Volkskrant.

Chinese-Dutch real estate company CTF completed the purchase of the former Paleis van Justitie, literally the "Justice Palace" in the center of Amsterdam for 61.3 Million Euros. It was the second attempt by the firm to pick up the historic building on the famed Prinsengracht canal.

The Netherlands earmarked spent 868 million euros on services for roughly 24,000 asylum seekers last year, according to figures Justice Secretary Klaas Dijkhoff provided to anti-Islam party PVV. The party leader, Geert Wilders, blasted the amount, saying it translates to roughly 36 thousand euros per asylum seeker.