How do you bring high-end cyber, financial and specialist expertise into policing without hiring full-time staff?
In this Policing TV international series on volunteer policing, Dr Iain Britton speaks with Laura Martens and Maarten Oosterink from the Dutch National Police about their specialist volunteer investigator model – an innovative way of bringing professionals from industry into frontline investigations.
They explain how the Netherlands has four types of police volunteers, why they created a specialist route in 2021, and how volunteers with backgrounds in cyber security, finance, psychology and digital forensics now hold investigative powers within their niche.
Maarten shares his own journey: balancing a cyber security career with part-time specialist volunteering, processing digital evidence in serious investigations and helping keep complex cases on track. Laura sets out how the police recruit, vet and match volunteers to teams, and how these specialists are now helping reopen cold cases and tackle backlogs that would otherwise never be touched.
The conversation offers practical lessons for any police organisation considering how to tap into external expertise through volunteering – especially in cybercrime, digital investigations and financial crime.
Takeaways
- There are four types of police volunteers in the Netherlands: generic, specialized, special investigation officers, and supportive task volunteers.
- Specialist investigator roles were introduced in 2021 to utilize volunteers’ specialized skills.
- Volunteers undergo a six-month training program focusing on laws and regulations.
- The recruitment process matches volunteers’ skills with police needs.
- Specialists add capacity on cyber, financial and complex investigations.
- Specialist volunteers have limited police powers in their own expertise.
- Cold case teams benefit from the additional manpower provided by volunteers.
- The Netherlands police is open to advising other countries on establishing similar programs.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Volunteer Policing in the Netherlands
03:01 Overview of Volunteer Models in Dutch Policing
05:46 The Role of Specialist Volunteers
08:39 Recruitment and Integration of Specialist Volunteers
11:43 Impact and Value of Specialist Volunteers
14:23 Future of Specialist Volunteering in Policing
17:19 Advice for International Implementation of Specialist Volunteering
Subscribe for more leadership conversations from inside and beyond policing
We have launched a YouTube channel where you can also view our videos – just click here and please like and subscribe PTV Youtube
PolicingTV content is being brought to you in partnership with Kodex & World Policing Advisory
Kodex revolutionises the way organisations manage sensitive data requests from law enforcement and government agencies, transforming a traditionally complex process into a secure, streamlined workflow that ensures compliance, enhances security, and reduces operational costs.
Trusted by over 90,000 government agents and industry leaders like Binance, Airbnb, Match Group, and LinkedIn, Kodex sets the industry standard for secure data exchange — powered by a global intelligence network and advanced threat detection capabilities.
To learn more about Kodex, click here – If you are part of a government agency and need to create an account, click here
World Policing Advisory is a global consultancy specialising in the future of policing and public safety. We offer global policing expertise, delivered locally through a model focused on consulting with conscience.
Our teams have direct experience of strategic and tactical policing and private sector leadership, blended with the globe’s best subject matter expertise to create high impact value for money services with in-year benefits.
For more information contact our MD, Gary Stuart ([email protected])