To investigate
Serious use of force by police officers
All cases of firearms use by the police/investigators resulting in injury or death are investigated by the National Criminal Investigation Department. Other incidents involving serious injuries or fatalities involving the police as a party are also investigated by the National Criminal Investigation Department. Under the authority of a public prosecutor (case officer), the National Criminal Investigation Department conducts an impartial and objective investigation. Once the investigation has been completed by the National Criminal Investigation Department, the Public Prosecution Department will assess whether the use of firearms or other actions has been lawful on the basis of the investigation results.
Forms of aggression and intimidation in society require appropriate enforcement action by police officers. The law requires that investigations into the use of force by investigating officers with serious consequences must be conducted impartially and carefully. This is of great importance to victims and relatives as well as to the investigating officers involved.
The National Criminal Investigation Department is not part of any other investigative bodies such as the police.
Official Corruption
One of the most important tasks of the National Criminal Investigation Department is to detect and investigate (possible) criminal behavior of civil servants. This often concerns issues in which the behavior of civil servants is harmful to the reliability and integrity of the government. This concerns, for example, the leakage of confidential information, the falsification of documents or the solicitation or acceptance of money of the officials (bribery). Sometimes corruption is also related to organized crime. Subversive crime, such as the influencing or suppression of civil servants and administrators by criminals, is an increasing risk to our society and the rule of law.
Advising role
With more than thirty years of experience, the National Criminal Investigation department can also assist directors and officers at an earlier stage in identifying issues that could potentially affect the integrity of a government organization. The National Criminal Investigation Department can also think along with you about an appropriate next step. This is done in a confidential conversation. The National Criminal Investigation Department can also think along with you about an appropriate next step. This is done in a confidential conversation.
Discretion
As an investigative department, the National Criminal Investigation Department has various investigative resources available for the purpose of finding the truth. National investigators know through training and experience how to conduct objective, impartial and careful investigations. Discreet where possible and decisive where necessary.
Objective research requires distance: distance from the parties involved. Powers, knowledge and skills are not enough, certainly not in the case of serious incidents and/or involvement of influential people. The National Criminal Investigation Department therefore falls directly under the authority of the Attorney General. Investigations are conducted under the supervision of a public prosecutor. In this way, the control over the initiation and execution of an investigation is at a distance from political and administrative interests and considerations.
Declaration obligation for civil servants
Anyone can file a report if he or she is aware of a possible criminal offence. However, there are also certain crimes that must be reported – either by everyone or by officials. This falls under the general reporting obligation (Article 199 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of Aruba) and specific reporting obligation for public authority and officials (Article 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of Aruba).
