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As of 1 January 2017, the Police Act has been amended, and the Police Academy has been integrated into the police organization (the National Police). This legislative change had multiple objectives. In addition to safeguarding the quality and independence of police education and research, it aimed to strengthen the connection between the Police Academy and the police, improve the alignment of police research with practice, and make the management more efficient and effective. Dialogic, commissioned by the Research and Documentation Centre (WODC), examined the extent to which these objectives have been achieved. The research shows that the integration has not demonstrably contributed, but also has not hindered the functioning of the Police Academy.
Due to the legislative change, the staff and management of the Police Academy have been almost entirely placed under the National Police. However, the Police Academy retained its independent status in the form of a small independent administrative body, consisting of the director and the deputy director. The chief of police is the employer of the staff working for the Police Academy under the authority of the director. The chief of police provides the finances to the Police Academy after they have been determined by the Minister of Justice and Security.
Performance of Police Academy Sectors Improves to a Certain Extent
Educational and research activities at the Police Academy are carried out in four sectors:- Basic Police Education sector;
- Higher Police Education sector;
- Vocational Education sector;
- Knowledge & Research sector.
No Major Changes Needed
The researchers note that the integration of the Police Academy and the chosen independent administrative body structure has not demonstrably had a positive impact. Changes in management and operations have led to less clear relationships between the Police Academy, the Dutch Police, and the Ministry of Justice and Security. At the same time, the researchers acknowledge no negative consequences for the quality of education. This is largely ensured by the supervision exercised by the Inspectorate of Justice and Security and the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation (NVAO). This supervision was already in place before the Police Academy was integrated into the National Police and has not changed since. Therefore, the researchers recommend not making major changes but continuing efforts to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and existing management structure of the Police Academy.What has been the contribution of embedding the Police Academy in the police system?
