Openbaar Ministerie

The Public Prosecutor's Office (OM) determines who must appear in court and for what offence. It is the only authority that can decide to prosecute a person. The area of activity of the Public Prosecution Service is criminal law. The Public Prosecution Service therefore does not interfere with dismissal issues or with neighbours arguing over an overhanging tree branch. They must go to the civil courts to settle their dispute. The Public Prosecution Service only comes into the picture when someone commits an offence.

The Public Prosecutor's Office employs approximately 5,000 people. Prosecutors, assistant officers and attorneys-general lead the criminal investigation and work closely with the police and other chain partners. In addition to public prosecutors and advocates-general, the Public Prosecution Service also employs people in administrative positions, policy officers, legal specialists, HRM advisers, communication advisers, information specialists and, for example, IT specialists.