This thesis explores the complex topic of partnerships between private companies and public institutions in policing, focusing on the influence of power dynamics on the effectiveness of such...Show moreThis thesis explores the complex topic of partnerships between private companies and public institutions in policing, focusing on the influence of power dynamics on the effectiveness of such collaborations. A framework is utilized to help explore the topic and determine the partnership analyzed into a category. In recent times, public-private partnerships have become increasingly common as various actors seek to address various complex social challenges through the use of Public Private Partnerships (PPP). This study specifically investigates the partnership between the municipality of Almere and G4S, a private security company, in the context of municipal policing. The research aims to determine the partnership into a specifically designated category.Show less
Using a framework of five factors; nature of actor, authorities, task division, perceptions, and collaborations, this thesis aims to define the policing partnership in the municipality of Rotterdam...Show moreUsing a framework of five factors; nature of actor, authorities, task division, perceptions, and collaborations, this thesis aims to define the policing partnership in the municipality of Rotterdam. Making use of document analysis, as well as information gathered through an interview, the framework is applied to the case study and finds the policing partnership in Rotterdam to be best described a junior-partnership. With this framework not previously being tested yet, future research could look at applying the same to other case studies to increase the framework’s reliability.Show less
In the Netherlands, Municipal enforcers (MLEOs) have become an important addition to policing in the country. This paper uses theories derived from the academic discussion on plural policing. The...Show moreIn the Netherlands, Municipal enforcers (MLEOs) have become an important addition to policing in the country. This paper uses theories derived from the academic discussion on plural policing. The junior and equal partnership models are applied to establish which kind of partnership between MLEOs and the police is present in the Hague. In this single-case study, document analysis and interviews with police officers and an MLEO were utilised to establish which of the two models best describes the partnership between the actors in the Hague. Findings indicate that a junior partnership is in place, where MLEOs take the junior position in relation to the police in the Hague.Show less
Over the past few decades, we have seen the rise of the extraordinary investigative officer being employed by several municipalities within the Netherlands, with this type of security officer...Show moreOver the past few decades, we have seen the rise of the extraordinary investigative officer being employed by several municipalities within the Netherlands, with this type of security officer seeking to maintain public order in cooperation with the police. Previous studies have been conducted regarding this collaboration between the latter two actors in which an analytical framework based on junior partnership and equal partnership was adopted, however, this partnership is still disputed in the literature which prompted further research. The purpose of this thesis research was to investigate whether a junior partnership or equal partnership currently exists between the Dutch police and extraordinary investigative officers of Utrecht. The expectation was that a junior partnership prevails between the latter security actors, however, some evidence of an equal partnership has also been found. Theories pertaining to a relationship based on a junior partnership and an equal partnership were examined and compared with the results that were obtained from conducting a qualitative content analysis and a semi-structured interview. The results of the qualitative content analysis as well as the semi-structured interview revealed significant evidence of the presence of a junior partnership that support the initial expectations of this study. This study thereby emphasizes the presence of a junior partnership between the Dutch police and extraordinary investigative officers of Utrecht.Show less
This case study analysis presents an analysis of the coordination between BOAs (municipal law enforcement officers) and the national police in the municipality of Vlissingen, in the southwest of...Show moreThis case study analysis presents an analysis of the coordination between BOAs (municipal law enforcement officers) and the national police in the municipality of Vlissingen, in the southwest of the Netherlands. The relationship between these actors in this form of plural policing will be determined through a theoretical framework that is adapted from the studies by Rice (2019) and O’Neill et al. (2022), which have provided variables to research if there is a junior or an equal partnership of coordination. Therefore, the research question is: How can the current coordination between the National Police and BOAs in Vlissingen be described? Through a combination of the qualitative research methods of document analysis and interview analysis, this study aims to investigate the dynamics and challenges associated with the cooperation of BOAs and the police in Vlissingen. The results show that in some areas we can consider an equal partnership and, in other areas, a junior one. The more the BOAs in Vlissingen professionalize, the more equal the partnership will become. Future research has the opportunity to draw more attention to the urgency of the professionalisation of BOAs and the impact this has on community policing in different regions of the Netherlands.Show less
The focus of this research is to determine if there is a junior or equal partnership between the Nederlandse Spoorwegen, department Veiligheid & Service and the Nationale Politie. This study...Show moreThe focus of this research is to determine if there is a junior or equal partnership between the Nederlandse Spoorwegen, department Veiligheid & Service and the Nationale Politie. This study aims to answer the research question: “What partnership approach governs the relationship between Veiligheid & Service (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) and Nationale Politie?”. The research focuses on two partnership types, junior and equal, in five categories: responsibilities, information sharing, network position and legal framework, training, and perception of professionals. The research uses a single case study design and applies qualitative data collection methods, including interviews and document research. The research sample consists of multiple individuals in different relevant positions from both actors and a coordinating actor. The research indicates that Veiligheid & Service primarily has a junior partnership with respect to the Nationale Politie due to limited responsibility and information sharing, limited legal power and training. However, findings with regard to network position and professional perceptions suggest an equal partnership amongst the actors. Multiple interviews were conducted. However, the interviews were conducted with respondents positioned at a tactical or policy level, potentially under-representing local operational levels. Further research could explore the impact of external factors and the effectiveness of partnerships in achieving their goals.Show less
Master thesis | Crisis and Security Management (MSc)
open access
Although strategic communication is a tool that can help in countering adversarial influencing campaigns whilst simultaneously increasing resilience against them, it also has the potential to work...Show moreAlthough strategic communication is a tool that can help in countering adversarial influencing campaigns whilst simultaneously increasing resilience against them, it also has the potential to work against the sender’s own goals. This research focuses on how the design of a message contributes to this phenomenon, referred to as ‘information fratricide’. Because the term ‘information fratricide’ is derived from the military and this research focuses on non-military strategic communications in the modern contested information environment, information fratricide is theoretically and conceptually (re)developed to be better suitable for the use in this research. This is done by breaking down Stuart Hall’s encoding/decoding theory (1973) and Shannon and Weaver’s concept of ‘noise’ (Shannon & Weaver, 1949). In order to identify the role of message design in information fratricide, an analysis of information fratricide incidents was made. The analysis focused on the communication of U.S. officials about the Russian military build-up at Ukraine’s borders in 2022 and the information fratricidal effects on three receivers of this communication, and found that message design contributes to information fratricide through the ideas that codes add to a message. Furthermore, it was found that the effects of past information fratricide incidents work over time to potentially affect future friendly operations.Show less
Master thesis | Crisis and Security Management (MSc)
open access
Every year people are reported missing in the Netherlands. In the situation that a missing person is not found quickly, it creates unbearable situations for their close ones. Therefore, it is...Show moreEvery year people are reported missing in the Netherlands. In the situation that a missing person is not found quickly, it creates unbearable situations for their close ones. Therefore, it is important to continue to improve the effectiveness of the search for missing persons. With the recognition that citizens need and want to contribute to a safe society, it is important to learn more about the ways in which citizens can be effectively involved. This is especially relevant for the police. One of the ways to involve citizens is the form of coproduction. This research focuses on coproduction between the police and citizens during the time of missing persons cases. A comparative case study is applied. The cases that are compared are those of Ruben and Julian and Anne Faber. Qualitative content analysis is applied to analyse a triangulation of sources with the use of operationalization tables established on coproduction and effectiveness in missing persons cases. The findings of this study shed light on the impact of coproduction during the search for missing persons as it reveals similarities and differences between the two cases.Show less
Master thesis | Crisis and Security Management (MSc)
open access
This research revolves around the decision-making process surrounding the New Year’s Eve bonfires in The Hague. After incidents during the New Year’s Eve 2018/2019 bonfires, the municipality of The...Show moreThis research revolves around the decision-making process surrounding the New Year’s Eve bonfires in The Hague. After incidents during the New Year’s Eve 2018/2019 bonfires, the municipality of The Hague changed its policy. Even though earlier editions revealed the safety risks of the bonfires, the municipality waited until after the 2018/2019 edition to intervene. In order to explain the timing of the policy change, this research uses the Multiple Stream Model by Kingdon (2011). The analysis of the municipal decision-making process gives an insight into the causes that have led to the change in policy. The conditions surrounding the bonfires in 2013/2014 and 2018/2019 are compared in order to establish which factors play an important role in the occurrence of policy change. By applying Kingdon’s model to the two cases, conclusions are drawn on whether the model is able to explain the difference in outcome, namely no policy change and a policy change. This research argues that changes in the problem and political stream have led to the policy change regarding the New Year’s Eve bonfires in 2019. The events of New Year’s Eve 2018/2019 have helped to identify the bonfires as a problem in need of government intervention. The political context was just right. In the 2013/2014 case necessary conditions were absent, which explains why a policy change did not occur then. This study has shown that Kingdon’s Multiple Stream Model is able to explain the policy change regarding the 2018/2019 New Year’s Eve bonfires.Show less
