Researcher Bauke Koekkoek singlehandedly dismantled the police policy of picking up ”confused persons”. Police registered 75.000 incidents in 2016 alone. ”In reality only thirty percent involve people with signs of mental problems”, says Koekkoek. ”The term is a catch-all for anyone and everyone who shows deviant or objectionable behaviour.”

Chief Aalbersberg laid down the terminology in a mission statement. ”Keeping the peace & quiet” became a goal in itself, at which point we entered that other zone, where the police raid homes ”because the blinds are down”. The couple living there was arguing too loud, according to a neighbour. The woman was thrown in a cell for the night. Her boyfriend for several nights more. Swalmen, Roermond area.

Other ”nuisance” makers were dropped off at one of those GGD affiliated institutions, and kept there. Mayor signs the warrant.

On the upside, individuals like Koekkoek can make the difference. Police started registering in 2011, but have largely abandoned the practice under pressure, and indeed, the unrelenting stream of news articles about confused people has dissipated visibly.