Police spending cuts will not damage operations, says minister

There is ‘no question’ of the outgoing government damaging police operations by making irresponsible budget cuts, says justice minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin, following a string of claims about spending on the police.

Hirsch Ballin urged MPs and police chiefs to wait until September 21, when the caretaker government will present its spending plans before commenting on the plans.
In addition, the new government, which is likely to have a tough law and order message, will be able to amend those proposals, Hirsch Ballin said.
Petty crime

Gerard Faas, chairman of the Rotterdam police force’s works council, says in Thursday’s AD that more cuts will mean the police have no time to deal with petty crime such as bicycle theft.
‘The cuts will the hit police directly,’ Faas said. ‘For our force alone it would mean a reduction in officer numbers of some 600 over two years. We will have to prioritise serious crime.’
However, Harm Brouwer, head of the public prosecution service, said on tv current affairs show Nieuwsuur he is concerned that the cuts will mean top criminals will go unpunished. Politicians should come clean and be honest with the public about that, he said.