KRALENDIJK – The screening of justice personnel in the Caribbean Netherlands is falling short and poses significant integrity risks. That is the conclusion of the Council for Law Enforcement following an investigation into how the Public Prosecution Service BES, the Caribbean Netherlands Police Corps (KPCN), the Caribbean Netherlands Penal Institution (JICN), the Caribbean Netherlands Guardianship Council (VRCN), and the Caribbean Netherlands Probation Foundation (SRCN) vet prospective and current staff.
Employees sometimes start without a Certificate of Good Conduct
According to the Council, it occurs that employees begin their duties before their Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG, the proof of good conduct required for an appointment) has been issued. As a result, individuals can gain access to confidential information before their screening is complete. Furthermore, police data is in practice not taken into account when assessing a VOG, even though the law permits this under certain conditions.
Enhanced screening absent
In the European Netherlands, a more rigorous screening process — the so-called VOG Police Data (VOG-P) — has applied since 2022 to certain positions within justice organisations. A comparable equivalent for the Caribbean Netherlands still does not exist.
A proper framework is also missing for the KPCN. A ministerial regulation intended to govern the so-called reliability investigations for police personnel has still not materialised after fifteen years. The Council calls this a failure by the Minister of Justice and Security, who also serves as the corps administrator of the KPCN. As a result, existing police personnel have not yet undergone this investigation; the process has only recently begun for new employees.
Central oversight lacking
The Council further concludes that central oversight of the screening of justice personnel is absent. The organisations involved acknowledge its importance, but in practice it is insufficiently clear who is responsible for what. The Council calls on the Minister of Justice and Security to take the lead and establish clear, binding agreements with all parties concerned.
The Council will closely monitor the follow-up to its recommendations and will be informed of progress in six months’ time.
Read the report here
