In January, during our annual Issue Conference, we presented the “Issues to Watch” research into the most important issues for 2019. Kantar Public asked more than a thousand Dutch people which issues they considered most important for the coming year. One of the most important issues turned out to be violence against aid workers: a topic that was already frequently in the news in the first months of 2019. The Central Works Council (COR) recently reported based on research that the National Police had to deal with much more violence during the New Year than appears from the official figures. According to Rob den Besten, chairman of this COR, many officers do not report it when they are confronted with violence, because it is assumed that this is part of the job, or the offense is considered too minor to report.
In March, Minister Grapperhaus spoke with administrators, representatives of social organizations and care providers to hear their experiences and discuss additional measures or ideas about a safer New Year's Eve. The results of the meetings are discussed in the cabinet and incorporated in a letter to the House of Representatives about the New Year.
As far as we are concerned, this is not limited to measures during the New Year's celebration - a celebration that is anything but a party for many - but these measures are being extended more broadly. Because even when there is no reason for excessive drinking, care providers are increasingly being verbally abused, spat at or physically abused. An example of this is the report made this month by the Dutch Association of Medical Assistants (NVDA). According to our own research, approximately two in three medical assistants have experienced violence in the past two years.
Putting the issue on the agenda
The studies by the COR and NVDA provide a solid basis for putting this issue on the agenda: the confronting figures speak for themselves. The NVDA puts the subject on the political agenda and Den Besten, chairman of the police works council, is not afraid to take a firm position on this in clear language in the national media: “This must end. I think we really shouldn't want this together." Den Besten also calls on the responsible ministers, the chief of police, politicians and care providers to take measures themselves.
The issue is put on the agenda by these parties and the emotion is clearly felt. But the next important step to actually tackle this issue is still pending. It is not yet clear what the perspective for action is for the care providers. Hopefully these will emerge from the discussions with Minister Grapperhaus, so that this issue can be tackled more broadly.
