The average citizen doesn't need controls and watchdogs, but the government, royal house, and anyone with access to the coffers supported by tax payer money do. I hear very little these days about crime in the streets, but the white collar crime is sky rocketing.

By AW | November 30, 2009 8:31 AM

AW
Try living in the UK. Corruption and theft from the public purse is rife by politicians, civil servants etc. Infact anywhere there is public money you will find someone sticking their grubby little hands in, and the British authorities do nothing.
Netherlands, do not go down the same route, nip this in the bud immediately

By Karl H | November 30, 2009 10:26 AM

I'd rather see €12k being paid to the people who keep me and mine safe, than the €000000s being given to banks to pay 'contractual bonuses' to their professional gamblers (or 'city bankers', you choose).

He'd see 6k of this bonus after tax, no doubt. How many times was he called? Perhaps, unlike the banks, this was good value for money.

By osita | November 30, 2009 10:44 AM

I don't agree with Osita: If we cannot trust senior members of the police to play by the rules then it's a free- for-all for everyone. It's the people we elect to serve and protect us, not the other way around. (this article alludes to misappropriation of funds)

By AW | November 30, 2009 1:18 PM