Security shortcomings at Dutch military bases
By Nicola Chadwick
13-10-2008
The Dutch ministry of defence has tightened security with immediate effect at military bases in the Netherlands following an undercover TV programme which exposed alarming shortcomings in security at the bases.
In the programme Undercover in Nederland, reporter Alberto Stegeman entered military bases without authorisation in Woensdrecht and Havelte.
He managed to gain access to F16 fighter planes, sleep at one of the bases and take a military truck without being challenged. He subsequently drove the truck on public roads and parked it inside another base, again without being stopped at any point. The army was not even aware that the vehicle had been taken and it remained unnoticed until the reporter handed in the keys a week later. Defence has called the video footage "worrying" and announced it will carry out an investigation into the matter. The incident has also been reported to the Military Police. The defence ministry found it alarming that its own staff aided the programme makers by tipping off the journalist and providing a set of keys - which, incidentally, fit any Dutch military vehicle.
Shocked
Dutch MPs are shocked by the film. The GreenLeft opposition party is demanding a parliamentary inquiry and an emergency debate with Defence Minister Eimert van Middelkoop next week during the autumn recess. GreenLeft leader Femke Halsema said, "The security of military objects is a joke especially after a critical report by the Dutch Audit Office in 2005."
Up to now there does not appear to be enough support in the Lower House for an inquiry, as other parties want to question the minister during debates already scheduled for the coming weeks.
The ministry points out it would be impossible to provide 100-percent security at all its bases. According to a spokesperson:
"The security of crucial and indispensable systems is given the highest priority." On this basis, it might appear safe to conclude that the Dutch army can afford to miss a few trucks.
Link
http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/netherlands/081013-Dutch-security
By Nicola Chadwick
13-10-2008
The Dutch ministry of defence has tightened security with immediate effect at military bases in the Netherlands following an undercover TV programme which exposed alarming shortcomings in security at the bases.
In the programme Undercover in Nederland, reporter Alberto Stegeman entered military bases without authorisation in Woensdrecht and Havelte.
He managed to gain access to F16 fighter planes, sleep at one of the bases and take a military truck without being challenged. He subsequently drove the truck on public roads and parked it inside another base, again without being stopped at any point. The army was not even aware that the vehicle had been taken and it remained unnoticed until the reporter handed in the keys a week later. Defence has called the video footage "worrying" and announced it will carry out an investigation into the matter. The incident has also been reported to the Military Police. The defence ministry found it alarming that its own staff aided the programme makers by tipping off the journalist and providing a set of keys - which, incidentally, fit any Dutch military vehicle.
Shocked
Dutch MPs are shocked by the film. The GreenLeft opposition party is demanding a parliamentary inquiry and an emergency debate with Defence Minister Eimert van Middelkoop next week during the autumn recess. GreenLeft leader Femke Halsema said, "The security of military objects is a joke especially after a critical report by the Dutch Audit Office in 2005."
Up to now there does not appear to be enough support in the Lower House for an inquiry, as other parties want to question the minister during debates already scheduled for the coming weeks.
The ministry points out it would be impossible to provide 100-percent security at all its bases. According to a spokesperson:
"The security of crucial and indispensable systems is given the highest priority." On this basis, it might appear safe to conclude that the Dutch army can afford to miss a few trucks.
Link
http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/netherlands/081013-Dutch-security