GESTAPO HOUSE CALLS

Media voice their concern about the Anonymous Crime Tip Line, this time in relation to drugs. The tolerance policy allows individuals to carry 5 grams of weed and grow 5 cannabis plants. Those very quantities, however, make every household a target.

Five plants technically is a plantation, and where there is five, there's likely to be more.

This is where that other policy kicks in: reasonable suspicion, police don't need a  warrant from the judge to enter a premises. A certain smell or a certain behaviour is enough, and of course the anonymous tip. It's perfectly in line with Dutch Law, which convicts citizens on ''reasonable assumption''.

Suppose you're fed up with that annoying Mr. Johnson from across the street: just call the Crime Tip Line and tell them he has a weed plantation in his basement. Guaranteed an anti-drugs unit will show up banging in his door.

GeenStijl.nl appropriately calls it The House Call Gestapo. Mainstream media are ringing the alarm bells as well, because too many innocent hard working families who have never touched or seen any drugs, are becoming victim of these raids.

The tolerance policy as a vehicle to enter any home authorities deem fit. The brutal crackdown policy gives a whole new meaning to the phrase 'Mr. Policeman is only one phone call away'.