Page 44 - Aanbevelingen om de integriteit

223. The various NPN units each have a Security, Integrity and Complaints (VIK) department, next
to the VIK department within the Central Unit. The core duties of the VIK department at the Central
Unit are developing framework policies in the area of integrity and complaints etc. However, the
operational investigations, disciplinary and/or criminal, are carried out by the VIK departments
within the units. In addition to handling complaints, the VIK units deal with mediation and
reconciliation, monitoring security, screening new employees and prevention.

224. The NPN Internal Investigations Department can investigate serious criminal offences and
misconduct committed by employees of law enforcement organisations (and other civil servants,
semi civil servants or other officials in the public domain), and the use of violence (including firearms)
by the police in case this has resulted in injury or death. In principle, suspicions of corruption
offences within the NPN and KMar are investigated by the NPN Internal Investigations Department.
This department falls under the responsibility of the Board of Procurators General. As such it plays
the role of an impartial body when conducting its investigations. The NPN Internal Investigations
Department consists of experienced detectives. It reports only to the Public Prosecution Service
about the investigations it conducts.

225. The Justice and Security Inspectorate monitors the implementation of the NPN integrity
policy on the basis of article 65 of the Police Act 2012. The monitoring focuses on the execution of
duties and quality assurance by the NPN. This does not only apply to the functioning of the NPN as an
independent organisation, but also to its role as a chain partner, for example, within the law
enforcement system and the immigration process. The Inspectorate also controls the quality of the
training and examinations conducted by the Police Academy. Significant events involving the NPN
can also be investigated by the Inspectorate, if there is reason to do so in special cases. The
Commissioner and the Director of the Police Academy are obliged to provide support to the
Inspectorate in carrying out its activities. Within the context of the integrity policy, the Justice and
Security Inspectorate issued a report, in September 2016, on the measures that serve to prevent
police officers from misusing police information.

226. The Research and Documentation Centre (WODC) can also fulfil a role in the monitoring of
the implementation of the NPN integrity policy. It is an independent division of the Ministry of Justice
and Security that conducts scientific, policy-focused research. Reports and other publications are
publicly available online. The Ministry of Justice and Security can request the WODC to conduct
integrity related research. In September 2017 the WODC issued a report on organised crime and the
integrity of law enforcement agencies.

227. In the KMar, the information provided in the statements of law enforcement officers for
security screening is verified by the Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD). The primary
function of the screening process is the risk assessment in relation to State security. The assessment
of the ethical conduct of military personnel is closely connected to this.

228. The Integrity Cluster of the KMar, which deals with internal integrity policy also handles
complaints against KMar staff in respect of various forms of alleged misconduct. The Integrity Cluster
reports directly to the CKMar. The aim of this structure is to prevent undue influence from colleagues
in management positions. Within the Integrity Cluster, it is the Internal Investigations (SIO), Integrity
and Complaints sections that handle the investigations. In case of misconduct and negligence of duty
- disciplinary investigations – they are conducted at the request and under the responsibility of the
competent authority, i.e. the CKMar; and criminal investigations are conducted under the authority
of the Public Prosecution Service. The GET was told that only experienced investigators who have
attended specific training and legal courses at both the Dutch Police Academy and private training
institutes work for the SIO and they are vetted every five years at the highest possible level by the
Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD).

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