Melanie Zwama

Melanie Zwama is a senior professional working for Politie Nederland (the Dutch National Police). She currently holds the position of Senior adviseur vakontwikkeling online en social, which translates to Senior Advisor for Professional Development in Online and Social Media.1

Professional Background

Melanie has extensive experience in the field of social media and online communications within law enforcement. Previously, she served as Projectleider Richtlijnen for Social Media Beleid (Project Leader for Social Media Policy Guidelines) at Politie Nederland. Her expertise lies in developing and implementing social media strategies for the police force.

Role and Responsibilities

In her current role, Melanie focuses on:

• Advising on the development of online and social media practices for the Dutch police
• Guiding the implementation of social media policies
• Enhancing the police's online presence and engagement with the public

Notable Contributions

Melanie is known for her advocacy of the police's active participation in social media and online platforms. She believes that the police's involvement in these spaces is crucial for several reasons:

1. Community Engagement: She emphasizes the importance of the police's presence at events like Pride to demonstrate support for the LGBTI+ community in the Netherlands.2

2. Public Communication: Melanie supports the use of humor and relatable content in police social media posts, stating that it can be an effective way to connect with the public.4

3. Digital Innovation: She has been involved in projects exploring the use of various social media platforms, including YouTube, to enhance police communications.3

Melanie Zwama is based in Zwolle, Overijssel, Netherlands, and has a substantial professional network with over 500 connections on LinkedIn.1 Her work continues to shape the Dutch police's approach to online and social media engagement, adapting law enforcement communication strategies to the digital age.