Parkstad mayors appeal regional policy plan for Limburg police

Bottom reached

All 7 municipalities must cut back on available police capacity to such an extent that the security tasks are no longer feasible. This while the execution of basic police tasks in this area is already under high pressure. Some municipalities will also have too few or no neighborhood police officers left. Even less police capacity has disruptive consequences for safety and livability. Mayors share the view that a bottom has been reached.  

Theory versus reality

Roel Wever: "The RBP takes no account whatsoever of the already dire situation. Add to this the specific characteristics such as the border location next to Germany and close to Belgium and the socioeconomic disadvantage in the Parkstad region; factors that create additional security risks. Moreover, the RBP works with a theoretical model that does not take into account actual occupied positions, vacancies, staff shortages or absenteeism. In short, it is a paper reality that will be much worse in reality."

Heerlen proportionally hard hit 

The RBP notes for Heerlen a decline from 182 to 155 FTEs. In reality, however, only 125 FTEs are now occupied. Mayor Roel Wever: "That means that our city currently already has less capacity than is needed according to the RBP. And if this plan goes through, Heerlen will have to cut back even more."
Especially in Heerlen that already often ends up in the wrong charts, this is going to turn out badly. The policy is also at odds with the hefty joint investments by the state and the municipality, among others, for the Heerlen-North National Program. In this area, Heerlen is working hard to make sustainable changes in terms of prosperity, livability, safety and equity.
"In that sense, I also see the further reduction of police capacity as a form of capital destruction," said Mayor Roel Wever: "And that capital destruction works through within the entire region because the municipalities have agreed to carry out a number of approaches against, among other things, youth nuisance and youth crime together." 

Also major concerns police base team Brunssum-Landgraaf

The RBP notes for the Brunssum-Landgraaf police base team, which consists of the municipalities of Simpelveld, Voerendaal, Brunssum, Beekdaelen and Landgraaf (SVBBL), a drop in capacity from 144.1 FTEs to 126.5 FTEs. In reality, however, only 97.47 fte are actually occupied now.
Mayor Richard de Boer, as mayor of Landgraaf and as chairman of the local SVBBL triangle, expresses his concern about the situation that has arisen: 'This means that the Brunssum-Landgraaf police base team already has much less capacity than the targeted and reduced formation capacity that would actually not be reached until 2027. Furthermore, the municipalities of Brunssum, Beekdaelen and Landgraaf are far below the average level of 1 neighborhood police officer per 5,000 inhabitants. The RBP maintains the current (low) number of neighborhood officers within the Brunssum-Landgraaf police base team. As mayors of the Limburg unit, we are unanimously of the opinion that the Limburg security chain has insufficient people and resources to adequately address and manage Limburg's broad and serious security issues.'

Kerkrade

Mayor Petra Dassen-Housen, like her colleagues, is concerned about police capacity in the region. "The broad and heavy security issues in our city and region require a strong commitment of the police. Our municipality scores high on drug problems and organized undermining (youth) crime. This requires a proper and tenacious approach. The concerns of parents, teachers, social workers and society as a whole are great. Together we also want to help the young people themselves to change course. This can only succeed if we cooperate with various parties. The police are an indispensable link in this. Unfortunately, an adequate approach is under pressure with the current and future police capacity. That is unacceptable."