What is the Special Witnesses Team?

The Special Witnesses Team (Team Bijzondere Getuigen, TBG) can shield a witness’s information and identity (name and other data). If, for instance, you have important information about a crime, but nobody must know you are sharing that information with the police, TBG may sometimes be the solution.

If you are in contact with TBG, even an investigation team or public prosecutor will not know that you are the witness. So your name will not be mentioned in the police file. In special cases, a witness can still claim any reward that may be offered in a case by the Public Prosecution Service.

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Who  should contact the Special Witnesses Team? 
The Special Witnesses Team collects information about serious offences, such as murder, armed robbery, drug trafficking, child sexual abuse, arson, terrorism, money laundering, human trafficking, and fraud, such as environmental fraud or bankruptcy fraud. This information may help solve serious crimes. 

The team is there especially for witnesses who may face a threat. Sometimes it may also be possible to explore whether, in exchange for information, a deal could be made with the Public Prosecution Service (e.g., a reduction in the sentencing demand and/or in financial confiscation). In addition, it might be possible to explore whether special protection measures are necessary for the witness and/or their immediate family or relations.

How can I contact the Special Witnesses Team?

If you want to contact the Special Witnesses Team, call the National Intelligence Team (TNI) on their shielded telephone line. TNI will then assess whether your information is suitable for TBG. 

You can call the National Intelligence Team on +31 (0)88 - 661 77 34, on Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. TNI’s phone line is also open during the broadcasting of the crime watch TV programme Opsporing Verzocht: on Monday evenings from 9.15 p.m. onwards.

TNI will never call you from this number – this is to ensure that nobody can accidentally see that you have been in contact with this phone number. So if you call and nobody answers, it is important that you try again some other time.

For further information about TBG, see the website of the National Intelligence Team (TNI).