If the police intend to impose disciplinary penalties for possible violations of freedom of expression, they must seek advice from AGFA Police.
AGFA assesses whether the expressions and participation in the WhatsApp groups fall under the protection of freedom of expression. The committee has no objections to the disciplinary penalties for participation in these groups. The six employees now have six weeks to appeal.
Publication of AGFA advice
AGFA has published its advice, making part of the WhatsApp conversations public. The police have never released the content to protect the victims. It is common for AGFA to fully publish its advice, including behaviors that led to sanctions. The expressions are inappropriate and discriminatory.
Peter Holla: “This shows the harsh reality: the terrible, discriminatory texts that have been shared. We strongly condemn these expressions. It harms trust in the police.”
Five other employees have already received penalties. In total, four have been dismissed, six received conditional dismissals with training programs, and one employee received a reprimand.
Building an inclusive police force
With these penalties, the investigation into the WhatsApp groups has concluded, but the ambition for a diverse police force remains. Peter Holla: ‘We want to be a police force for everyone. This requires constant attention and the willingness to learn.’
Following the investigation, discussions were held within all teams in the Amsterdam unit about behavior on online platforms. Clear boundaries have been set for the use of WhatsApp during work and personal time.