This is allowed only in special cases and to the extent necessary to carry out its legal police duties.
Is disclosure really necessary?
Do the police want to disclose personal data? For example, for the purpose of tracing someone? Then the police may only do so if they can justify that there is a compelling public interest. Such as security.
The Openbaar Ministerie (OM) must therefore also consent to the disclosure of the personal data in question. In doing so, the police and the prosecutor consider whether the investigative purpose is proportionate to the impact that disclosing, for example, the suspect's name or images would have on his or her private life.
Are there less intrusive ways?
There may be less intrusive ways to achieve the same goal. For example, it is less intrusive for the suspect if the police publish "blurred" versions of images. Or when the police announce that they are not going to release the name and photo until the suspect does not report himself by a certain time.
Police duties
The police have more leeway to disclose personal data than other organizations. This is stipulated in the Police Data Act. But that space applies only when it comes to carrying out its statutory police duties, these are:
prevention and detection of criminal offenses
maintaining public order
Providing assistance to those who need it
Exercising regulatory oversight
To illustrate, when providing information about its work, the police may not use data that can be traced back to an individual.
