The guideline has been carefully compiled. It states that the document should not be seen as a working instruction, but as a tool for facilitating conversations.

Possible Breeding Ground for Radicalization

‘The fact that the police are establishing a guideline on this subject does not mean that the police always sees conspiracy thinking as a problem,’ says an expert from the National Investigation and Intervention Unit. ‘However, it is known that conspiracy theories can, in certain cases, form a breeding ground for radicalization and extremism. This is also stated by the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security in the terrorism threat assessment of the Netherlands.’

No Doubt About the Suffering of Victims of the Benefits Affair

Since conspiracy theories often arise around issues with significant societal impact, several themes are mentioned in the guideline regarding which much misinformation or conspiracy stories circulate. These include COVID-19 and the benefits affair. ‘The inclusion of these themes does not mean that the police denies the events themselves or dismisses them as a conspiracy,’ says the expert. ‘It is not disputed that the benefits affair has harmed thousands of families. The reason the benefits affair is mentioned in the document is that conspiracy stories are also circulating about it. We do not question the suffering of the affected parties.’

Correct Context

We acknowledge that some parts may cause confusion without the correct context. Therefore, we will adjust the guideline on this point. We want to emphasize that the suffering of the affected parties and the injustice they have suffered are not up for debate. The mention of this theme only relates to the conspiracy stories circulating about this subject. We would be happy to discuss this with representatives of the affected parties. We emphasize that the police is always attentive to societal discontent and the people who suffer its consequences, said the expert.