Amsterdam police will not arrest women in burqas, even if a ban is introduced. That's according to Police chief Bernhard Welten, who said on public television that police officers have to use their common sense. "I do not feel that I should always be an instrument of the government who always does what is asked."
In response, Freedom Party MP Hero Brinkman, a former policeman himself, strongly criticised the chief, “The police should be subservient to the authorities. The government and parliament make the laws. The police enforce them. We would be a banana republic if it were the other way around.”
He called on the interior minister to take action against Mr Welten, although he fell short of actually calling for his resignation. On Twitter, the MP wrote, “Welten is leaving this year. Pity, would have liked to see him sacked.”
On public radio, Mr Brinkman said regional police chiefs had abused the ability to use their own discretion for years, but he predicted this would no longer happen under the current government. The Dutch police force is due to be reorganised, with regional police corps merging into a national force, thus having only one police commissioner in future.
The controversial proposal to ban face-covering garments was stipulated as part of the coalition agreement between the conservative VVD and the Christian Democrats. The minority government is supported in parliament by the anti-Islam Freedom Party.
It is not the only government policy to have been questioned by police chief Welten. According to independent civil service journal Binnenlands Bestuur, he also said he saw little value in the introduction of 500 "animal cops", which the cabinet has announced. After his New Year's speech Mr Welten said, "I jokingly call them the hamster police. These people will have to come from our current capacity which is already under pressure."
In mass circulation daily De Telegraaf, Freedom Party MP Dion Graus, who is the party's spokesperson on animal rights, said it was "a deep disgrace that a police chief should say such a thing."
But Mr Welten doesn't stand alone. In the Binnenlands Bestuur report, Amsterdam Mayor Eberhard van der Laan said Mr Welten had a point, “but if the government decides there have to be animal cops then we have to carry out the policy." The Mayor of Venlo also doubted the wisdom of the decision, saying, "Sorry, but we have other priorities in Venlo."
© Radio Netherlands Worldwide
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Burqa is worn by Muslim women by choice,
And in no way is it enforced upon them.
Those people who are ignorant about the teachings
of ISLAM should refrain from making comments.
By the way, it's common sense to oppose SLAVERY of women/girls such as under Islam, by forcing them to cover up, thus erasing their own identity, as if good enough only as Muslim men sexual properties, for breeding more Islamic male warriors and as sex-slaves!
So, this arrogant Police chief will defend the rights of Muslims who break the laws, thus kicking "down the drain" of majority law abiding Non-Muslims human rights?! Sick reasoning!
fire the guy. He is chief, he must fillow the law he can not make it at his pleasure
PVV MP Brinkman has made an ironic statement. Banana republics are governed by powerful militaries whose aim is to maintain power in the hands of an elite few. Welton would choose to ignore the idea of mean-spirited legislation supported by, you guessed it, an elite few.
Welten and Eberhaard are beacons of common sense in a country increasingly under the control of self serving maniacs.