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Correcting a police statement

You read back your statement and see something that is incorrect. First ask your lawyer to review the actual text and context of the interrogation.

Duration: 1:24

Further reading and sources

This video summarises the main points. The full article provides more detail, exceptions and official sources. This information does not replace advice about your case.

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Criminal Law in the Netherlands.

You read back your statement and see something that is incorrect. First ask your lawyer to review the actual text and context of the interrogation.

Write down what you think is wrong for each passage. Distinguish between an incorrect representation, missing information and something you want to come back to substantively.

Save messages, documents and your own notes that support your comment. Separate your own memories and information you received later. Don't fill in uncertainties afterwards.

A correction may contain new information about the suspicion. Therefore, discuss with your lawyer how you will respond, to whom and at what time.

An addition or withdrawal does not automatically make the original statement disappear. Ask how your response will be added to the file and what its possible meaning is.

Save exactly which correction was sent, with the date and an acknowledgment of receipt. Ask your lawyer to check how the difference is recorded in the file.

Read the full explanation on the Criminal Law in the Netherlands website.

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Invited for police questioning in the Netherlands? Check your role. This explanation concerns questioning as a suspect, rather than as a witness.

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Received a summons: what happens next?

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Understand the supporting sources

Sources and supporting information

Here you can find the sources for this page. Open the original publication for the full explanation, conditions and exceptions.

  2. Police: signing an official report as a suspectOpens in a new tabpolitie.nlhttps://www.politie.nl/informatie/moet-u-een-proces-verbaal-ondertekenen.html
  3. Police: request case documents as a suspectOpens in a new tabpolitie.nlhttps://www.politie.nl/informatie/hoe-vraag-je-als-verdachte-een-proces-verbaal-of-andere-processtukken-op.html
  4. Police: digitally signed declaration and changes - different legal position than suspectOpens in a new tabpolitie.nlhttps://www.politie.nl/informatie/veelgestelde-vragen-over-digitaal-ondertekenen-bij-telefonische-aangifte.html
  5. Supreme Court, December 20, 2022: assessment of statements, ECLI:NL:HR:2022:1864, part 3Opens in a new tabuitspraken.rechtspraak.nlhttps://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/details?id=ECLI:NL:HR:2022:1864
  6. Police: the task of a lawyer before and during the interrogationOpens in a new tabpolitie.nlhttps://www.politie.nl/informatie/wat-is-de-taak-van-de-advocaat-van-de-verdachte.html

Sources accessed at .

A source reference does not constitute a legal review of this page.

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