Undermining crime
A strange smell at a property where the curtains have been closed for months. Or a business where customers never sit. Often people already have a gut feeling that something may not be right. We see that undermining crime is growing in the Netherlands. Not only companies, officials but also residents can come into contact with criminal activities. But what exactly is undermining? And how does it work?
Criminals need products and services from our society for illegal activities. This abuse is criminal in itself, but it also creates a variety of harmful side effects for society. Drug trafficking regularly entices vulnerable youth to sell drugs, entangling them in criminal circles. Money laundering schemes require businesses or licenses, so unknowingly crime infiltrates local businesses and creates unfair competition. And with healthcare fraud, the municipality may be providing too much, wrongly or to the wrong people money for Health, at the expense of our vulnerable residents.
Residents and entrepreneurs in Wassenaar have to work hard for an honest living, while criminals sometimes lead luxurious lives due to the above abuse. If we do nothing, this abuse undermines the proper functioning and trust in the rule of law and society. We call these forms of crime undermining crime.
The undermining approach in Wassenaar
Anyone who thinks that undermining crime is skipping the municipality of Wassenaar is wrong. In Wassenaar, the police roll up an average of three drug premises per year, and it is expected that we will exceed the average this year. Furthermore, other forms are on the radar in Wassenaar, such as labor exploitation, rogue activity and fraud constructions. Mayor Leendert de Lange: "In Wassenaar, we take undermining crime seriously. It is important that social awareness increases and that the police and municipality get a better grip on undermining crime. Because ultimately it is about the safety of all Wassenaarders".
In Wassenaar, we have been putting a lot of effort into our undermining approach for a number of years, organizing various activities and actions to maintain our visibility and commitment to undermining crime. For example, an information day for boas, building inspectors and the college was recently organized at the police station. An information evening for neighborhood prevention groups was also held and training for our youth workers on at-risk youth will start soon. In particular, an integral traffic check took place last week in the area of undermining. During this check, around €20,000.00 in debts were recovered and several vehicles were impounded. Also watch the report of this check.
Are you seeing signs in your neighborhood or area that something may not be right? This could indicate hidden or subversive crime. Always report your gut feeling and make a report. Contact the police at 0900 88 44, or call Report Crime Anonymously at 0800 7000. You can also report digitally to Report Crime Anonymously via the website www.meldmisdaadanoniem.nl. You can also make a report to the municipality.