One in three citizens would like more police in the streets

Most Dutch people see police out in their street less than once a week. One in three would like to see the police in their neighbourhood more often. Especially people living in strongly urbanised neighbourhoods want to see more uniforms in the street.

Most citizens see the police less than once a week

At the start of 2007 nearly two in three citizens see the police less than once a week in the streets. 12 percent sees the police every day and 17 percent sees the police about once a week. So nearly three in ten citizens see the police in their neighbourhoods at least once a week.

Police visibility in the neighbourhood, 2007

Greater police visibility

One third of all citizens feel the police should show up more frequently in their neighbourhood. An almost equal number of citizens feel there is no need for them to come more often or less. Only a small minority of 4 percent would like to see less police in their street. Almost three in ten citizens don’t care if they see the police more often or less.

Over a third of the citizens who see the police less than once a week, want to see the police more often. A quarter of the people who see the police at least once a week would like the same thing.

Desirability of police presence in the neighbourhood, 2007

Police mainly visible in strongly urbanised areas

Police visibility is greatest in extremely and strongly urbanised neighbourhoods: that is where nearly half of the citizens see the police at least once a week. In less urbanised areas the police presence is much less visible.
The need to see uniformed police in the streets is greatest in extremely and strongly urbanised areas. Almost 40 percent of the citizens indicated that they wish to see the police more often. In non-urban areas this is a quarter.

In police regions Amsterdam-Amstelland, Rotterdam-Rijnmond, and Haaglanden police visibility is above the national average. In these three regions and in the regions Midden- and West-Brabant, Limburg-Zuid and Flevoland there is an above average share of respondents who would like to see more police out on the streets.

Police visibility in neighbourhoods by degree of urbanisation, 2007

Harry Huys