Holland: Race statistics criticised
01 January 1991
Holland: Race statistics criticised
artdoc June=1994
Figures produced by the police criminal intelligence service on
the source of racist violence has come under strong attack. A
confidential analysis by the Central Recherche Informatiedienst
(CRI, Central Criminal Intelligence Service) concludes that
racist provocations and violence against foreigners in Holland
do not originate from organised rightwing extremism. According
to the CRI, they are local and mostly unrelated incidents. The
number of reported incidents over 1993 (612) has risen sharply
compared to the first documented period (Jan 1992 - May 1993: 337
incidents).
Experts however have questioned the reliability and validity
of the CRI's analysis. Criminology Professor and expert on
policing Dr Cyrille Fijnaut (Leuven and Rotterdam universities)
says that the figures are based only on published accounts and
that many incidents are not included. He says their conclusion
that organized right-wing extremism plays no role is not
supported by hard evidence. Dr Jaap van Donselaar of Leiden
University, considered to be an expert on rightwing extremism,
also questions the CRI's conclusions and emphasizes that extreme
right political parties make every effort to keep connections
with their violent followers out of the limelight.
The Fascisme Onderzoekskollektief (FOK, Fascism Investigations
Collective), which has many local correspondents throughout the
Netherlands and confidential sources within extremist groups,
calls the figures blatantly unreliable. `The CRI has to work on
data supplied voluntarily by local police forces. They did not
include in their figures at least eight serious incidents (a
hostage situation involving asylum seekers, a case of arson and
a number of physical assaults) in which rightwing extremists were
involved.' The FOK spokesperson also pointed out that a group of
extremists sentenced in 1993 for violent crimes against
foreigners was not considered to be organised, because during
police questioning the subject was not brought up. However, five
of them were card-carrying members of the CP `86 extremist party
that has local councillors throughout the country. The CRI
accepts that its conclusions are based on the statements of
arrested perpetrators, and that only in a very limited number of
incidents were people arrested. `Information' from police
intelligence services was not used in the analysis.
Statewatch Vol 4 no 2, March-April 1994