The observers were selected ‘in order of entry’ from the 173 people who applied. Mayor Femke Halsema announced this in a letter today. The trial will begin next Wednesday, September 1.
The municipality wants to use the trial to investigate whether the police really select people at random during the check and not on the basis of skin color or other characteristics. The weapons checks are in five neighbourhoods: Bijlmer-Centrum, Burgwallen Nieuwe Zijde, Geuzenveld, the Dapperbuurt and the Waterlandpleinbuurt.
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Observers will be made aware of the risks of participating, such as the possibility of becoming involved in violence or the possibility of being called as a witness in a criminal case. Just before weapons checks begin, the observers are told where to go.
Police unions against trial
Last week, four police unions announced that they want the trial with the observers off the table. They spoke of distrust of the Amsterdam police and did not rule out actions if Mayor Halsema did not heed their call.
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“Police officers feel wronged by the political fear of ethnic profiling,” they said in a statement. Halsema writes that the four unions have been invited for a meeting ‘to further discuss their concerns’.
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