Verbalisant
Reporting officer
A verbalisant is a public official authorized to draw up an official report, such as a police officer or other investigating officer.
A reporting officer is an official who, in the performance of his statutory duties, prepares an official report of facts observed or actions taken. This report, known as the proces-verbaal, carries special evidentiary weight under Dutch law and is frequently relied upon in criminal proceedings.
The role of the reporting officer is significant because the proces-verbaal underpins the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of offences. Judges and public prosecutors base their decisions in part on the content and reliability of these reports.
In practice, a reporting officer may also be another investigative officer, for instance from the Tax Authority or Customs, depending on the nature of the inquiry and the powers conferred by law.
“The reporting officer has accurately described in his official report what he observed during the inspection.”
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