Kralendijk / Oranjestad / The Bottom:--- Today, the Council for Law Enforcement publishes the State of Law Enforcement Caribbean Netherlands 2024. In the report, the Council expresses its appreciation for the efforts of judicial chain partners and the progress that has been made at various organisations individually and in their cooperation. In doing so, the Council pays specific attention to the positive developments at the Dutch Probation Service. The Council is also enthusiastic about what the Board of Chiefs of Police has achieved in the cooperation between the police forces of the countries. However, the Council warns of the growing influence of social developments in combination with structural bottlenecks that put pressure on the future of the rule of law on Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba. In particular, the report points to serious capacity shortages in the police, as a result of which even the availability of emergency aid cannot always be guaranteed. The capacity of other organizations is also under pressure. In addition, the Council again points to the lack of integrated management and inadequate interministerial cooperation. Although the Council notes that cooperation between chain partners at the local level is improving, the direction from the European Netherlands remains fragmented. Various ministries and their departments pursue policy without sufficient mutual coordination or central vision. This hinders a coherent and decisive approach to complex problems such as subversion and juvenile delinquency.
Emergency aid is under pressure due to police staff shortages
One of the most urgent signals concerns the situation at the police. The Council notes that the Dutch Caribbean Police Force is struggling with serious staff shortages. This leads to a situation in which the deployment of basic emergency aid – a core task of the police – is no longer structurally guaranteed. Without structural reinforcement, the operational commitment threatens to be further eroded. On the other hand, this situation also creates risks for staff. In other parts of the security chain, such as border control and the detention system, the performance of tasks is also increasingly at stake.
Call for cross-domain cooperation and future-oriented policy.
The Council states that the approach to crime and security problems should not only be sought within the judicial domain. Many of the underlying causes are social in nature, such as poverty, educational disadvantage, addiction problems and limited housing. This requires close involvement of ministries such as Education, Health, Social Affairs and Home Affairs. Sustainable solutions can only be achieved through cross-domain cooperation and shared ownership.
The report, therefore, calls on the central government to develop a central, overarching management structure. Policy efforts from different ministries must be integrated into a single long-term vision with clear responsibilities, stable funding, and structural strengthening of the implementing organisations.
Conclusion
The State of Law Enforcement Caribbean Netherlands 2024 shows a judicial chain in motion and a fragile balance. The consequences of immigration, increased tourism, inadequate infrastructure, inadequate social services, and insufficiently equipped organisations in the judicial chain pose a major and undeniable risk to the stability and security of the islands.
Structural improvements will not be made without fundamental choices in strengthening capacity, continuing assistance from the national police and the KMar, and improving management and cooperation. The Council emphasizes the importance of coherent policy, shared leadership, and sustainable investment in a resilient Caribbean rule of law.
The report has been presented to the Senate and House of Representatives, the Ministers of Justice and Security, and of Asylum and Migratio,n and is available in its entirety via the website of the Council for Law Enforcement: www.raadrh.com
On the site, you can also find the State of Law Enforcement Sint Maarten and Curaçao, respectively.
