Dutch MPs seek clearer police budget and performance targets

A majority of the Dutch House of Representatives wants the government to make the police budget easier to scrutinise from 2027, saying MPs need clearer information about what the money is meant to achieve and how police performance will be assessed.

The government has allocated almost €9.4 billion to the police in next year’s budget. The lawmakers behind a motion say MPs are expected to approve the spending without enough detail about the goals or results they can expect. They want the government to present proposals before submitting its 2027 budget on Prinsjesdag, the annual budget day in September.

The motion was signed by MPs from PRO, JA21, VVD, 50PLUS, the Christian Union, SGP, BBB, CDA, Denk and the Markuszower group. Its sponsors also want Justice Minister David van Weel to specify what performance is expected of the police in 2027 and how he will hold the force to account. They say any additional funding should be better justified.

Police spending is currently broken down into areas such as staff, buildings and transport. But how much is spent on statutory duties such as criminal investigations and maintaining public order is largely unclear, the Netherlands Court of Audit noted in 2024.