Waiting too long callers police line hooks en masse

The waiting time for callers still running high, sometimes up to half an hour to sources at the Regional Service Centres (RSC) by the police. Two months ago this newspaper reported already that the police tips fog ICT issues and explosive absenteeism at the phone centers.

Plasters and palliatives
Since then the situation has hardly improved. In many regions still manages not to 80 percent of the callers to speak to within 20 seconds. There is much dissatisfaction with emergency measures promulgated senior police after reporting by this newspaper. The measures are called 'patches' and 'quick fixes'.

,, There is a culture of fear, "says Jan Struijs, president of the Dutch Police Association (NPB). ,, Employees dare not openly complain and executives taking too little action." An RSC employee agrees: ,, Everyone is afraid and dive to save his own skin. "

Set up task force
In July, the police management has set up a task force to address the problems in the service. The task force is headed by Ronald Blacker, right of police chief Oscar Dros, whose portfolio is responsible for services to the police.

In an internal memo Dros writes about the malaise at the phone centers: ,, It is evident that at the expense of services to citizens, giving our own position information and image damage for the police. '

Palliative
In the memo he announces nine emergency measures. For example, the service may temporarily hire temporary workers to fill gaps in staffing. ,, The agency may not exceed twice three months working with us, "says one employee. ,, A mere palliative."

Regional units may temporarily use their "emergency budget" for additional crew service. ,, But that money should also many other things are paid, such as scaling with terrorist threats and large-scale studies, "says Struijs.

Dros police announced an investigation into the workload at the service centers and an analysis of the high absenteeism. A spokesman for the corps management has announced that the accessibility of 0900-8844 "of course is highly relevant. ,, We carry each other the conversation to come to a manageable workload and provide better services. "

By editorial AD Photo: Reuters