Page 29 - Aanbevelingen om de integriteit

(standards, codes, procedures and enforcement) and discretionary powers for the professional.
The integrity policy is updated annually and was last updated in October 2018.

142. In 2014, the NPN adopted the Professional Code of the Police (NPN), which lists the core
values to be upheld by the police staff, including integrity/honesty, reliability, courage etc. It also
refers to professionalism and leadership. The Code says that the Police should be free from
corruption and open to discussing integrity dilemmas. The Code is regularly reviewed and is said to
be used as an instrument to positively influence employees’ behaviour. It is issued to all new
employees; it contains, inter alia, the oath of police officers. Further, it contains information on the
tasks of the police, their mission to serve, values to uphold principles such as the rule of law, core
values of integrity and trust, professionalism (expertise), leadership, how to deal with dilemmas (of
the public) etc. The GET appreciates this document which, in a clear way, summarises the values of
the NPN. It is an important document, in particular for public awareness reasons.

143. All police officers and (trainees) have to take an oath that s/he has not given or pledged
anything to obtain his/her position and that s/he shall not accept any pledges of gifts in order to do
something or refrain from doing something during employment. They also have to swear allegiance
to the Constitution and to carry out dutifully and accurately their assignments. Moreover, the
Commissioner’s portfolio includes integrity management and managers have a role in streamlining
integrity, ensuring that risks and dilemmas can be freely discussed in the organisation and integrity
measures are undertaken with regard to new employees and during screening procedures.

144. The NPN Security, Integrity and Complaints Department (VIK) develops the framework of the
integrity policy. The policy departments develop policy on specific topics. The units, the Police
Services Centre and the departments are responsible for implementing this in their own
organisational units. The chief constables of the units and directors focus on integrity within their
respective parts of the organisation in order to be as close as possible to reality. The VIK department
monitors the implementation. The relevant policy departments publish the information that comes
out of this procedure.

145. The GET was informed that clear cut bribery cases are not very common in the NPN or the
37
KMar. Recent integrity cases in the police top management concern the misuse of official authority
and public funds. There have been other cases of “unlawful appropriation’’, such as internal theft or
38
expenses fraud. There are also cases concerning violation of procurement rules . However, the bulk
of cases concern leaking (incl. selling) of confidential information and maintaining relationship with
39
criminal networks . The WODC Report on Organised Crime and Integrity Violations within Law
Enforcement Organisations refers to a total of 80 cases within the four law enforcement authorities,
including the NPN and KMar, as well as FIOD and customs, that could be linked to organised crime
within a period of five years (40 cases within the police). In 2017, 121 persons have been dismissed
as a result of integrity breaches.

146. The Mission Statement of the KMar concerns in particular the need to effectively enforce the
law, to render assistance to those who need it, as well as to contribute to the effectiveness of the
armed forces.

147. The KMar’s integrity framework is stricter and more developed in certain aspects as
compared to other divisions under the authority of the Ministry of Defence. This is due to the
policing and investigative powers of the body. Overall, the integrity policy of the KMar is comparable
with that of the NPN. Besides laying down rules of conduct, the KMar integrity policy focuses on

37 Cases the former Chair of the Central Work Council and of the former Amsterdam Police Chief
38 In 2012-2015 two police officers were fired due to their involvement in a tendering procedure for police vehicles.
39 In 2012-2015 about 15 police officers were fired after having provided information to third parties, including family
members, criminals and a detective agency.

29