Police officer (Politieagent)
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A police officer is a general investigating officer employed by the police. A police officer can hold different positions within the police organization depending on the level of education, such as the position of invigilator, officer, chief police officer or brigadier, or can work as a police volunteer. In addition, a police officer can work as a detective within a detective department. The police use police officers and departments in various ways, such as the aviation police, mounted police, water police, environmental police, traffic police and the alien police. Within these police units, the police make use of different police officers, who also have specific skills. The substantive activities of a police officer can therefore differ per function and department. For example, a local police officer will not be deployed quickly to carry out ordinary traffic checks. A neighbourhood police officer is a police officer who is specifically deployed to maintain order within a certain neighbourhood. This does not alter the fact that a district police officer may also carry out other police activities outside the district. Police activities are roughly classified within the basic police care and the specialist work. The basic police care relates to the supervision on the street. Specialist activities concern, for example, the criminal investigation, which conducts research after a burglary or other types of crimes. The entire police organization is responsible for enforcing the law and the general safety of all citizens. Most people only have to deal with the police officers who are responsible for maintaining public order on the streets. This does not alter the fact that the police can also be active in the background. This usually concerns the specialist police activities, such as conducting criminal investigations, infiltrating criminal organisations, carrying out digital investigations and forensic investigations.
The profession of police officer should therefore be seen as fairly general, because the police have different functions. Because the police have many different tasks, there are now also professions that have common ground with the profession of police officer. Think, for example,of special investigating officers and city guards, who monitor the general safety of people. Special investigating officers and city guards are not the responsibility of the police, but they do cooperate with the police. An important difference is that special investigating officers cannot be regarded as general investigators. This means that special investigating officers only have the authority to fine specific violations that fit within the working area. Think, for example, of parking inspectors, who cannot simply work as traffic controllers. As a general investigating officer, a police officer may detect and fine all offences and crimes, depending on the persuasion or crime. Other civil servants who can be classified as police officers are marechaussees and watchmen.
WHO DOES THE POLICE WORK WITH?
The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee is a police organisation with military status. The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee can also be used for ordinary police tasks if necessary. Of course, a police officer can also cooperate with other government services, such as customs, the tax authorities and the social police. In general, most people only know the police from the well-known surveillance services on the street and most people do not have to deal with the police. The surveillance services of the police are only a small part of the police, because the police have many more tasks that are less visible to the public, such as criminal investigations, fraud investigations and other investigations in the field of criminal offences. The surveillance services of the police are only focused on monitoring and enforcing the law. Think, for example, of speeding, cycling without lights and checking suspicious persons.
MOUNTED POLICE
The mounted police use horses that are used for various actions, such as during demonstrations, riots, football matches and for supervision. A big advantage of police officers on horseback is the high seat, which makes it easy to supervise. In addition, a police officer on horseback is more mobile and the police officer has a predominance over groups of people. Within the Netherlands, not every police force has its own mounted service. The mounted services of the police are generally only found in the big cities. However, they can be deployed throughout the country if necessary. As a mounted police officer, you are therefore a rider employed by the police. It is conceivable that police officers within the mounted police also work as animal police officers.
DOG BRIGADE POLICE
The police dog brigade is also a separate department, which can be used for different services, such as law enforcement or for investigative purposes after a crime. In addition, the investigative purposes may be aimed at finding drugs, explosives or, for example, cash. The Dutch police generally use the Belgian Shepherd, German Shepherd or the Dutch Shepherd. Police officers who use a police dog can also be considered a dog handler. As a dog handler you are also responsible for taking care of the service dog within a kennel. It is not the case that only the police use service dogs. Think, for example, of security staff working within a port, or customs. Police dogs can only be used for police work for which the police dogs have received training.
WHAT DOES THE TRAFFIC POLICE DO
The traffic police are equipped to monitor and comply with traffic rules and signs by road users. It does not matter which means of transport it concerns, but some well-known means of transport are cars, trucks, mopeds, scooters and bicycles. In general, the traffic police will pay a lot of attention to dangerous traffic violations, such as speeding, tailgating, driving with alcohol and other antisocial traffic behavior. The traffic police are in most cases active on the highway, but can also be active on regional roads. In addition, the traffic police are responsible for assisting and registering traffic accidents. It is the central unit, which will pass on where exactly assistance is needed. In addition to checking the road behaviour of road users, the traffic police are responsible for checking vehicles in terms of technical condition, such as possessing a valid MOT inspection, soaking lights or for checking trailers. Think of checking the lighting, the tires or checking the load. If the load is suspected, a police officer will usually look for a weighbridge to determine the weight.
WHAT TASKS DOES THE POLICE HAVE:
- The maintenance of public order and security
- Investigating criminal offences
- Providing assistance
- Identifying and advising
- Making arrests
WHAT DOES A POLICE OFFICER DO:
TRAINING TO BECOME A POLICE OFFICER
Anyone who aspires to a career as a police officer will have to follow a training course at the Dutch police academy, which offers training at various levels. The general police training courses within the Netherlands are Basis politiemedewerker, Allround politiemedewerker, Politiekundige Bachelor and de Basistrainingen. In general, you will have to have at least a VMBO diploma before you are admitted to the police training. You will also have to have the Dutch nationality. In addition, you must be at least eighteen years old before you will be admitted to the programme. The basic police officer training should be seen as an MBO training at level two and the allround police officer training should be seen as an MBO training at level four. Anyone who aspires to a career as a detective will have to have at least a bachelor's degree, such as the Police Bachelor's degree. For more information, see also the MBO training enforcer supervision & safety.
COMPANIES WHERE A POLICE OFFICER CAN BE EMPLOYED
A police officer is an official employed by the police. As described earlier, the police use many different specialists. Think, for example, of helicopter pilots, instructors, forensic investigators, fire investigators and volunteers. As a police officer you can work for regional police forces, but also for national police services.
COMPETENCES POLICE OFFICER
As a police officer, you must have many different competencies, which are also highlighted during the training. The most important competence of a police officer is integrity. Integrity is important, because as a police officer you have an exemplary role for society, and because citizens must be able to trust the police. In addition, a police officer must have a good condition and be well-versed in communication. Generally important words are motivation, service, vigilance, cooperation, independence, flexibility, perseverance, decisiveness, surrender and dominance. Finally, it is also important to mention conflict management.
LABOUR MARKET PERSPECTIVE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AS A POLICE OFFICER
The job market perspective of a police officer is fine, if you have the right training. The career opportunities of a police officer are generally also good, provided you continue to learn, and depending on the current level of education. Anyone who wants to grow within the police organization will therefore have to follow extra training. In general, the various police organizations offer sufficient opportunities to follow additional training. For example, a police officer can grow into a detective or detective.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY POLICE OFFICER
The working conditions at the police are well regulated, as is the case with most government services, and are represented by, among others, the police union ACP. The salary as a police officer is determined by means of fixed salary scales that differ per position. The salary as a police officer will be somewhere between 1800 and 2700 gross per month, depending on age, education and further responsibilities. A police officer with a higher position will generally earn a lot more.
The content on this page has been automatically translated from the Dutch language. For this reason, texts and videos on this page may contain small errors.
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