Samenvatting

Police officers’ perception of red tape depends only to a minor extent on the actual usefulness of rules and procedures. Red tape complaints rather refer to ‘rule strain’ and inadequate functioning ICT systems. Factors that can explain police officers’ perception of red tape are (a.o.) differing opinions on what police work should be like and their procedural skills. This article suggests that a constructivist approach to analyzing red tape might in general be more adequate than an objectivist approach.