Overview
- A province-wide RTV Utrecht inventory found most municipalities lack enough municipal enforcement officers, known as boa's, and now focus on answering citizen reports over preventive patrols.
- Examples of cuts include fewer checks on bar and restaurant permits in Vijfheerenlanden and fewer removals of long-parked bicycles in the city of Utrecht.
- Utrecht deploys 164 boa's, up from 96 in 2017, and says nuisance reports rose 20% in 2025, which is driving demand for more enforcement.
- Capacity gaps vary: Veenendaal has 14 boa's and wants two to four more, while De Ronde Venen has four against a common benchmark of one per 5,000 residents.
- Union BOA ACP says shortages are widespread, estimates 10% to 25% gaps, and points to limited training slots, a tough public image, and safety concerns as hurdles to hiring and retention.