Managing Local Intervention Teams in Rotterdam

Abstract

This chapter describes the introduction of intervention teams that were set up to tackle problems of public safety, order and social problems. This innovative coordination practice originated in the city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Since 2001, local intervention teams have been operating in the city in order to strengthen public safety and social cohesion and to provide services to citizens. The assumption is that public safety problems can sometimes be better tackled if the private situations of people that have trouble organizing their lives or cause nuisance are taken into account. A typical strategy to tackle such problems is through house calls (Istha, 2009). During such house calls several aspects are investigated in an integrated approach. Besides checking on the situation, care is also offered when necessary. This means that law enforcement and care are practiced in combination. The intervention teams are part of the so-called Collaborative Approach Enforcement Property & Person (CAE), which gathers several services of Rotterdam: Public Affairs, Social Welfare, City Development, Customs, City Surveillance and the Safety Directorate.