sex crime

The total number of crimes registered by the Dutch police in 2018 decreased by 6 percent compared to the year before, Statistics Netherlands reports. The number of sex crimes, however, is on the rise. 

The police registered  almost 9 thousand sexual offenses like rape, sexual harassment or -assault last year, compared to 8,400 in 2017. The number of rape reports increased from 1,200 in 2014 to 1,900 last year. And the number of sexual assault reports increased from 1,700 in 2015 to 2,400 last year.

The Justice and Security Inspectorate is launching an investigation into how the police and Public Prosecution Service treat victims of sexual offenses. The Inspectorate will approach 80 victims of rape and sexual assault and hopes to speak to at least 55 of them about how the authorities treated them while handling their cases, NOS reports.

The police in Limburg sent a letter of apology to a woman who was raped by a patient of a psychiatric prison who was on unaccompanied leave in December 2016. While being questioned after reporting the rape, the then 21-year-old woman was put under pressure by two sex crime detectives who did not believe her, The Volkskrant reports.

As more European countries are implementing laws under which sex without explicit consent is considered rape, calls are sounding in the Netherlands to introduce a similar law. 

Sweden implemented a law on July 1st which states that you have to ask permission before having sex. If the other person does not give explicit permission, you can be convicted of rape. Earlier this week Spain announced that it will soon introduce a similar law. 

The police need to change their approach to handling sexual abuse and human trafficking, according to Merel van Groningen, experience expert and counselor for loverboy victims. Fewer and fewer underage victims come forward because of the police's attitude, she said to the Telegraaf.

"I know of cases of minor loverboy victims who were told by a detective: 'but it was your own fault'. You've lost such a victim", Van Groningen said.

Dutch detectives are struggling under a massive workload and as a result can only get to a fraction of their tasks, police union NPB says in a new report that will be sent to the Tweede Kamer on Tuesday. The Netherlands is turning into a "narco state" where drug trafficking thrives and most criminal groups are left undisturbed, the union warns in the report that NOS has in its position.

A large part of the Burgemeester van Sonsbeeck park in Breda has been closed off to the public with crime scene tape since 5:00 a.m. on Thursday morning. A number of police officers are investigating a sex crime in the park, according to the Telegraaf.

Exactly what the officers are looking for, is unclear. To protect the privacy of the victim, the police will not comment on the case.

According to reporter Eva de Schipper, two bicycles can be seen in different areas inside the closed off part of the park. The police are investigating the bushes behind one of the bicycles.