Police No Longer Allowed to Use Drugs in their Free Time

Beginning on 1 January, police personnel of the Amsterdam corps will no longer be allowed to use drugs even during their free time. While until now policemen could not come to work drunk or under the influence of drugs, this will now no longer be allowed in their free time either, as they should be setting an example to the public. The Amsterdam section of the police trade union ACP considers this guideline as “going too far”, as the policemen are not paid during their free time.

www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/2776412/_Blow-_en_alcoholverbod_agenten__.html?p=9,2

Twenty-five Murders in Three Provinces Related to Cannabis Growing

A new report “The World Behind the Growing of Cannabis” by the criminologists Henk van de Bunt, Toine Spapens and Laura Rastovic found that in the three southern provinces Limburg, Noord Brabant and Zeeland, twenty-five murders related to the growing of cannabis had occurred in the last five years. They also found that organized gangs can earn tens of millions of Euro within a few years through cannabis trade. Justice Minister Hirsch Ballin (Christian Democrat) intends to give more attention to cannabis growing in the framework of his actions against organized crime.

www.trouw.nl/hetnieuws/nederland/article870140.ece
/Aanpak_van_wietmaffia_is_hard_nodig

Judge: Police Entitled to Go on Strike at Upcoming Major Soccer Games

A judge has decided that policemen are entitled to go on strike when assigned to upcoming major soccer games. Police commanders had asked the judge to forbid the strike actions. Police trade unions have called for a strike demanding salary increases.

www.parool.nl/nieuws/2007/DEC/14/ams8.html

Soccer Games Cancelled Due to Police Strike

The mayors of Rotterdam and Amsterdam have cancelled the soccer games Feyenoord-AZ and Ajax-PSV, as security could not be ensured due to the strike announced by the police trade unions.

www.parool.nl/nieuws/2007/DEC/15/bin3.html

Amsterdam Municipality Greatly Concerned about Increase in Escort Prostitutes

The number of escort prostitutes in Amsterdam has increased greatly, from 500 in 1999to over 1,000 in 2007. This is partially due to the move away from “window” prostitution. The Amsterdam municipality is greatly concerned, as there is no control on this activity, which leads to exploitation and human trade. The municipality now wants to introduce permits for escort companies.

http://www.nu.nl/news/1356574/14
/Amsterdam_wil_einde_aan_gedwongen_prostitutie.html

Train Conductors no Longer Allowed to Use Force

The Dutch railways (NS) have informed its personnel that train conductors are no longer allowed to use force against aggressive travelers, but will have to call for the help of specialized teams located at twenty major stations. This measure was severely criticized by Rover, the train travelers’ organization, which claims that aggressive passengers thus can leave trains at smaller stations without paying for their ticket or being punished.

www.trouw.nl/laatstenieuws/laatstenieuws/
article866911.ece/Conducteurs_moeten_
van_NS_geweld_uit_de_weg_gaan?backlink=true

Threatened Museum Director Gets Guards

Ranti Tjan, director of a museum in Gouda, will be getting special protection. He has expressed his willingness to have an exhibition of the pictures of Iranian photographer Sooreh Hera which were refused by the municipal museum in The Hague. Some of these pictures portray two homosexual men with masks who represent Mohammed and his son-in-law Ali.

www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/2767589/_
Museumdirecteur_krijgt_bewaking__.html?view=print

(See also: http://badnewsfromthenetherlands.blogspot.com/2007/12/
iranian-photographer-in-hiding-due-to.html)