Subversion will be one of the main priorities of the Amsterdam Police in the coming years. As a preamble the theoretical background, current phenomena and potential approaches have recently been explored. The following is a summary of the theory and proposed approach.

Introduction

In May 2008 the joint Commissioners of Police of all major European cities held their 30th Capital Policing Europe (CPE) Conference in Amsterdam. The two main topics addressed were ‘Inequality’ and ‘Subversion’. As a result, both themes will be the focus of attention throughout police departments in Europe in 2009. Amsterdam has taken a leading role in the investigation of these themes. A research group from the Amsterdam Police Department has set the following definition: subversion is “to weaken or abuse society’s structure leading to the corruption of its foundations and/or a decaying integrity of the constitution that protects her”. This will be further elaborated below.

Theory

(See figure 1) Our modern society is based on a complex but effective foundational structure. This structure can be divided in six categories: socio-cultural, economical, political, technological, ecological and demographical foundations. Every category contains various key elements. These elements consist of: persons or groups with an important contribution to society (e.g. politicians, role models, and local shopkeepers), important and/or high-risk locations (e.g. harbours, highways, head offices) and crucial branches or organisations that keep society going (e.g. waste disposal, health care, transportation sector).

Our society rests on these foundations, usually peaceful and often oblivious of the importance of these key elements. And almost always largely unaware of the constitution that protects her. This constitution is an extensive collection of partners that form a protective layer between society and its foundations. Partners from all kinds of agencies, authorities, organisations and institutions like the police, government bodies, companies, interest groups and watch dogs, media, healthcare, etc. These partners can be both public and private, both official organisations and unorganised groups of civilians. This layer of partners protects the foundational key elements against corruption and decaying influences from above (within society). Every partner has his own responsibility and task. It is when subversive influences seep through this layer unnoticed, drifting between the scopes of various partners, that they start to have an effect on the foundations. This is what we call subversion.

Approach

Amsterdam’s explorative investigation on subversion eventuates in an exiting new and open approach to effectively fight subversion in all forms, both known and yet to know. Two principles central to this new approach are: non-conditional cooperation and phenomenon-based criminal investigation.

In non-conditional cooperation the objective of every partner in the protective layer needs to shift from task-based to goal-based. The common goal of a safe and secure society supersedes every partner’s individual task. They can safely and openly share their information and their voids, after which individual priorities are set in harmony to serve the common goal. Cooperation needs to become the default, without prior conditions or posterior compensation.

Phenomenon-based criminal (and subversion) investigation implies a shift from felony-based to phenomenon-based investigation (albeit no replacement). It encompasses a stronger focus on the social and organisational system and structure behind the felony and the subversion, which can result in better efforts to predict, disrupt and prevent it. One of its main tools is the in-depth analysis of the societal factors that influence (i.e. prevent or facilitate) subversion. We used to ask who did it and how did they do it? Now we need to start asking why it was possible for them to do it that way. Why here? Why them? Why in that way? Questions from all partners need to be combined, based on common sense, a financial focus and a broad view. The answers will then automatically lead to new focal points for preventive measures (and prosecution).

These new principles are more than just tools; they comprise a whole new way in which the police look at the world around her. This means it requires more than implementation. It requires new leadership, new attitudes and a new desire to look around and wonder why.