The Netherlands Drug Situation 2010 - Trimbos-instituut

property crimes is decreasing, whereas an increasing proportion of drug users is arrestedfor violent crimes (against persons).9.2 Prevention of drug related crime9.2.1 Prevention of drug-law offencesThe administrative law on Prevention of Abuse of chemical substances (Wet Voorkomingmisbruik chemicaliën) aims at interception of chemical precursors for the production ofsynthetic drugs. Chapter 10 reports about new developments in de availability in precursors.The law on Prevention of Money Laundering (Wet ter voorkoming van witwassen en financierenvan terrorisme) can be used to prevent drug money from being laundered.This is an administrative law which can facilitate a possible criminal investigation.N.N.I.A.CostsMoolenaar (2009) presents estimates of criminal justice costs for a.o. drug offences. Theestimate includes all the costs the authorities incur to prevent and investigate crime,prosecute criminals, impose sentences, and take care of victims and offenders. Moolenaarpresents several approaches. Data prove to be limited, figures depend on definitionsand estimation methods, and assumptions have to be made. Different approaches resultin different outcomes. Moolenaar estimates on the basis of the best possible method thatpublicly financed prevention of drug offences (like surveillance by the police) costs 114million euro in 2006. In the ranking of seven types of offences, drug offences rank fifthand thus relatively low.Prevention of organised crimeIn the combat against organised crime – especially cannabis-related crime - an integratedapproach is applied with administrative and preventive measures, judicial approaches,and international co-operation. Furthermore, financial-economic approachesare used and strengthened. These approaches are a mix of repression and prevention.Preventive measures are considered important. Certain companies, professions or publicparties might be vulnerable for organised crime; risk analyses and prevention couldtherefore be in place. Administrative and preventive measures are the responsibility oflocal authorities, mainly mayors. Local authorities are committed because organisedcrime uses local infrastructure and local facilities. Vulnerable places or opportunitiesshould therefore be identified at a local level.Preventive measures are for instance (Commissie Fränzel 2009): Banning orders on the basis of local police acts (for instance for drug runners or dealers,but also for drug tourists on the basis of nuisance caused by drug use in public)or on the basis of criminal law. Controls of rule-compliance in coffee shops and checking possible criminal records ofowners of coffee shops, grow shops or smart shops (Bibob-Act, which can lead to refusalof permits). Identification of barriers for organised crime by analysing available information aboutoffenders and criminal networks. The basic concept is that organised crime networksare dynamic and operate in changing coalitions, and that weaknesses can be used bylaw enforcement.130