Connectors in Safety
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Connectors in safety The city marines in Rotterdam Pride in our city marines In 2002, Rotterdam got its frst city marines, following a recommendation from a committee of which I was a member at the time (not yet Mayor). This committee was convinced that the neighbourhoods with the greatest problems deserved the commitment of the best professionals. Like the Ministry of Defence sending the marines on a mission. The Municipality took our advice; the phenomenon of city marines became a fact. Looking back now, you can’t help but conclude that the city marines have become an integral part of Rotterdam’s safety policy. Photo: Mark Nolte Through their unifying and result-oriented way of working, they have acquired a leading position. Even though they will be the last to claim it. City marines do not proclaim their achievements, but share them with their network; residents, businesses and organisations in the city. The city marines operate in the heart of the city and are able to immediately deal with the problems they encounter, which is why their feld of work is constantly changing. This feld has expanded over the years, including the appointment of a city marine for High Impact Crimes and a city marine for Debts. At the moment, subversion – infltration from the underworld into legitimate society – has high priority. The city marine is an important link in the fght against this ‘invisible’, organised crime. The city marine does this together with security partners, residents and businesses. This has enabled us to achieve good results in the Spaanse Polder industrial estate, for example. The history of the city marines has been one of trial and error. Initially, the city marine was intended as a temporary instrument, but the most important conclusion is that the vast majority of the city marines’ actions still lead to visible results. However, we must be wary of the ‘waterbed effect’, i.e. the relocation of safety problems to other districts or municipalities. Improving security in a large city like Rotterdam is and will continue to be hard work. The city marines are strongly focused on making connections and achieving results. The cold, hard fgures show that they are succeeding. Higher scores on the neighbourhood profle 2020 show that Rotterdam is becoming more secure and residents feel safer. This is partly thanks to our smart, motivated city marines. Rotterdam is proud of them. Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam Photo: Miranda Vijfvinkel Photo: Miranda Vijfvinkel 2 / 3 Contents > Foreword: Pride in our city marines Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam pg. 2 > The city marines of Rotterdam pg. 6 > Six principles of the city marines’ approach pg. 11 > Portfolios of city marines pg. 12 - Subversion pg. 13 - High Impact Crime pg. 17 - Approach with debt pg. 18 - Areas / districts pg. 20 > The marines and Rotterdam are closely connected pg. 24 > Afterword André Vervooren, director of the Safety Directorate pg. 27 Foto: Joost van der Vleuten 4 / 5 Connectors in safety Timeline The city marines of Rotterdam History of the city marines in Since 1 November 2002, the city marines have played a central role in the safety approach in Rotterdam. With great success. Nuisance and a nutshell crime are increasingly being reduced. More people feel safe(r) in their district. The city marines have made an important contribution to this. And, they still do. START Rotterdam experienced major safety working method was characterised problems at the end of the nineties. (and still is) by politicians, municipal Neighbourhoods and districts faced services, the police, the judiciary, major problems, such as (drug) local businesses and residents nuisance, overcrowding, illegal working together. Their efforts renting of rooms and violence. reinforced one another and the city 2000 Whatever measures were taken, became safer. That didn’t happen it was not possible to break the by itself. The city marines were negative spiral. That is why it was deployed to drive, to connect and to The Task Force on time for drastic interventions. In 2002, add to these efforts. Social Infrastructure this led to a new approach to improve Sana el Fizazi City marine Hillesluis safety, which was all about working Nienke Riemersma (including Ahmed City marine HIC Aboutaleb, then structurally and systematically Getting results Rien van der Steenoven director of Forum) re- towards a safer Rotterdam. On the City marine Spaanse Polder commends the one hand, district-oriented, on the Where ordinary commitment is not Tijs Nederveen Arwin Siermans City marine debts introduction of a other, person-oriented. The aim was enough, the city marines are there City marine Rotterdam-Centrum marine model to tackle to reduce the level of degradation to get results. ‘The best equipped problems in the social and improve the quality of life. This people in the worst places’ is the Danielle van de Heuvel Marcel Dela Haije City marine Carnisse sector more effectively. overarching principle. They solve City marine racism/discrimination Louis van Gennip seemingly insoluble problems, often City marine Waalhaven in an unorthodox way. Enthusiastic, “Perseverance is professional and decisive. They can switch between the strategic and the one of the basic executive level like no others. They have their own resources, a clear components of mission and focus. Their authority comes from a direct line with their the city marines’ clients: the Mayor and the Executive Changing role nuisance and crime, and more collaborative. With an eye for Board of the Municipality and the contact with residents and other domains. A good example is existence.” Steering Group on Safety. This gives Initially, the city marines were businesses working from the bottom the new city marine for Debts. This the city marines extra powers and the quite severe in their role, but this up for a better future. Still energetic role is being deployed at the André Vervooren, freedom to force a breakthrough or has gradually changed. Less and result-oriented, but more unifying interface between debt and crime. director of the Safety Directorate make decisions. direct ‘confrontation’ with visible than ever and even more structurally And in the more demanding cases 6 / 7 “What really makes me happy is to talk to residents and think about ‘our district’. Because if something feels like ‘yours’, you’ll want to take good care of it.” 2001 City marine Hillesluis The first five-year Veilig City marines (Safety) programme was Genuine Rotterdam adopted by the Rotter - Heritage dam Municipal Council. It advocates The city marines and a person- and area- Rotterdam together have a based approach to where ordinary solutions no longer An example for others history and a future. The city safety with the aid of the help and ‘extra’ unconventional marines have a passion for Safety Index, the Safety attention is required. It’s now impossible to imagine the city and together with the Steering Group and the Rotterdam without the city marines. residents they want to make city marines. Although, there’s still plenty to do. Rotterdam stronger and And what they’ve already done has safer. Not surprisingly, the often been very successful. Always city marines are now inclu- focused on a solution and on results. ded in the active collection of Together with safety partners, their Genuine Rotterdam Heritage extensive network and, last but not (no. 13). With this collection, least, Rotterdammers themselves. Museum Rotterdam show- The Rotterdam city marines have cases the most diverse become an example for many initiatives, vibrant commu- other cities at home and abroad, nities and true Rotterdam 1 including Assen, Breda and Antwerp. residents. Their stories are 2 3 Representatives from other cities very much alive and well, regularly visit Rotterdam to see how having an impact on others the city marines do things here. and so too on the city. In 2002 doing so, they contribute to the progress, social cohesion and inclusive society that The Municipality of Rotterdam aspires to. Rotterdam’s Executive Board consisting of Leefbaar Rotterdam, CDA and VVD names safety as a top priority and appoints the first 13 city marines. 8 / 9 The six principles of the 2003 city marines approach Optimisation of their task 1. Working together and making connections and function. City ma - rines become problem The city marine doesn’t do it alone, but cooperates intensively with other parties where owners in the unsafe necessary. The problems are often too complicated to be solved by one party alone. districts. The city marine acts as a partner and as a driving force. In the vast majority of cases, the Task: to demonstrably cooperating partners see the collaboration and the integrated approach pay dividends. improve safety (on the Safety Index) in such a way that ultimately 2. A sense of urgency there are no more unsafe districts. The city marine knows how to create a sense of urgency: something has to be done, ! and it has to be done now! If everyone is aware of this, they will take the necessary measures or expedite them to others. The city marine also creates the conditions for successful collaborations. 3. Go to the core The city marine doesn’t just look at the surface. They examine the underlying causes of problems, make an analysis, submit this analysis to the parties involved and then tackle it vigorously together with those parties. 4. Feet firmly on the ground The city marine is found where the problems are greatest. They know what’s going on, they talk to residents, to local businesses, to authorities. They connect, work together, uses their strong information position, accelerate issues and get their teeth into the 2004 - 2005 problem in search of the best solution. Focus on the approach.