NPO ignores the fierce criticism from the police on the shortening of Opsporing Verzocht en Opgelicht - De Daily Standaard

The NPO sticks to its decision to use the much-watched television programs Investigation Requested in Scammed Can be shortened from 1 January. And the first one even next summer from the tube. According to the NPO, the programs would only appeal to a limited target group. But according to the police, more than a third of the cases dealt with in Opsporing Verzocht are solved thanks to tips from viewers. The NPO therefore seems to have completely different motives.

Both programs fulfill a social function in which society as a whole, but especially the police, has an enormous interest. The NPO now claims that mainly people over 60 watch these programs and that for that reason they want to shorten or even delete the programs.

I think that’s really pure nonsense. I wouldn’t be surprised if the real motive for this decision has to do with what kind of suspects and perpetrators are “over-represented” in those programs. I think they just want to kill those programs because they got it into their heads at the NPO that they unintentionally contribute to stigmatization, stereotyping and that whole riot. So they would rather stick their heads in the sand and move on to denying reality.

Fortunately, RTL has already indicated that they want to talk to the police to possibly take over the program. Far from ideal for a commercial channel to take over such a social function, but I still prefer that than the idea being put forward to give that task to Omroep Zwart!