THE HAGUE:--- On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, the Honorable Minister of Justice and acting Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports visited the port of Scheveningen in the Netherlands. This visit was organized at the invitation of the Ministry of Justice and Security's Directorate-General for Legal Affairs and Law Enforcement, Directorate of Security and Governance. During the visit, Minister Lewis received a detailed presentation on the Regional Information and Expertise Center (RIEC) in The Hague, gaining practical insights into the collaborative efforts undertaken to combat subversive (undermining) crime through administrative measures.
The RIEC Den Haag is a collaborative network involving 27 municipalities in the region: the Province of South Holland, the police, the Public Prosecution Service (OM), the Tax Administration, Customs, the Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD), the Dutch Labor Inspectorate (NLA), the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND), the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV), and the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). The RIEC's primary role is to facilitate, support, and connect these government entities in the fight against undermining criminal activities. By offering a platform for information sharing, conducting in-depth analyses, and providing intervention advice, the RIEC aims to strengthen government operations and foster a resilient society.
The work visit emphasized Minister Lewis’ interest in the importance of the administrative approach to tackling subversive crime, a crucial topic at the Judicial Four-Party Consultation (JVO), which the Minister is attending in the Netherlands. The Minister also took part in a boat tour of the Scheveningen harbor, where the practical implementation of the RIEC approach was demonstrated. This hands-on experience provided valuable insights into how the RIEC integrates information from various partners, enhances local awareness, and drives initiatives to combat and prevent criminal activities.
