The study, conducted at the request of the Ministry of Justice and Security, provides insight into how these specialised teams function within police work in heightened risk and life-threatening situations.
The study Aanhoudend Dienstbaar shows that there is a need for clear, unambiguous guidelines for the deployment, equipment, training and management of OGs and AOTs. Despite the similarities in tasks, there appear to be significant differences in how the teams' deployment is requested, assessed and evaluated. Working methods, competences and operational direction also differ.
Based on questionnaires among more than 500 police officers and representatives of the Public Prosecution Service, over 60 interviews, analyses of thousands of deployments, document analyses and observations of actual deployments, the researchers conclude that there are opportunities for better coordination, transparency and accountability. Annually, OGs and AOTs are deployed in about 3,000 arrests, where unambiguity in direction is essential for safety and legitimacy.
The researchers make concrete recommendations, including developing an integral vision for these specialist teams, translated into clear laws and regulations. They also call for the establishment of a central office for decision-making on deployment, training, arming and equipping these teams.
Research leader police sociologist Jaap Timmer of VU University Amsterdam says: "This study makes an important contribution to the professionalisation of high-risk policing tasks and the strengthening of public trust in policing."