Privacy and police investigations: What are your rights?


Questioner

My question is, is the police (local police officer) allowed to visit neighbors to ask when someone is usually home? This is to ensure that they don't come for nothing in the event of an impending arrest. This happened to me and I consider it a violation of my privacy and the creation of gossip, partly because I am at odds with these neighbors. These neighbors will also talk about it with other neighbors and guess why the local police officer wants to know about them. The police may even have already told the reason because people naturally ask why the police want to know about it.

Lawyer

If this is in the interest of the investigation, then this is justified. You could of course also contact the police directly.

Lawyer

Whether this method of investigation is permitted is not easy to say. An investigating officer (including a local police officer) has quite a lot of freedom in the performance of his duties. However, if someone's privacy is systematically violated, it may be that permission from a judge is required. Whether that is the case in your case, I cannot say with this information. Although the situation as you describe it does not seem to be too great an infringement of your privacy. If you would like more information, please contact us.

Questioner

Of course I did that, but that is separate from my question whether the local police officer acted lawfully, but also whether the man knows the rules. According to the police academy, there seems to be quite a few things wrong with that for many officers. I believe that my neighbors have nothing to do with a police investigation and should not be involved. My privacy should not be subordinate to police effectiveness. I could have been summoned. It's also a nonsense thing. My neighbors don't know my schedule and don't know at all when I'm 'usually' home. I don't know that about them either. It only encourages gossip. How did he know that they wouldn't inform me with something like, man, the police came by to ask about you and my reaction to this!

Lawyer

In response to your last sentence, you can say that this is a tactical move. Because the neighbors are going to tell you that the police have been to the door, that might make you think, so that you will contact them. That is the whole intention. Whether this is a violation of your privacy remains to be seen. Since your honor has not been affected. If the officer were to inform the entire street about you, the question would of course be different and the violation of privacy would indeed be an issue. Note that an officer has many powers to obtain information.

Questioner

Thank you for your response. You write: 'if the officer were to inform the entire street about you, the question would of course be different and the violation of privacy would indeed be an issue' If the neighbors were not banned from speaking, that would probably have been the case.

Lawyer

Then you can address these people about their misconduct.

Questioner

Misbehavior! They will probably disagree and refer to the local police officer. I can also expect the question of who I am to demand confidentiality from them. Back to square one! In the meantime I know (by telephone) the opinion of the National Ombudsman, which states that the/an officer may ask when I am usually at home with the neighbors, but may not provide information about the case itself. Official secrecy.

Lawyer

I have already informed you that if this is in the interest of the investigation, it is justified. Once again, good luck with that.

Questioner

Correct about asking about the best time to enter, how idiotic to have private conversations with neighbors. Informing neighbors about the reason is not allowed, at least according to the National Ombudsman.

Questioner

That's right about asking about the best time to break in, how idiotic it is to have private conversations with neighbors. That is offensive and provokes conflicts with neighbors. Informing neighbors about the reason is therefore not allowed, at least according to the National Ombudsman.

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