A new camera-based surveillance system used by immigration police at Dutch national borders allows the Netherlands to carry out stringent checks on who is coming into the country without breaking EU free movement rules, according to immigration minister Gerd Leers.
The new system, named @migoboras, recognises suspect cars entering and leaving the Netherlands from a database which uses traffic flow analysis. Vehicles are picked out for inspection based on their being ‘a certain type or colour, or passing at certain times, possibly in combination with other vehicles,’ the defence ministry says.
The system, which came into effect at the beginning of this month, was presented to the press on Thursday. The cameras have been installed at the 15 most important border crossings with Belgium and Germany.
Smuggling
‘The system supports border monitoring which means we can be more alert in signalling abuse of the open borders, such as people and drugs smuggling,’ Leers said.
The minister said the surveillance system operates without storing personal details. ‘I want to ensure we carry out tough checks without breaking the principle of free movement, to remove the people who should not be here.’
According to the Dutch government, the ‘European Commission has indicated that it has no objection to the use of the camera system in support of mobile immigration controls’.
Culled from Dutch News
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