Increase in violent police actions, handcuffing is also seen as violence | Domestic

In 2023, officers used force 35,542 times in 22,454 incidents, according to figures released by the police on Monday. That is an increase of 5 percent compared to 2022. This concerns, for example, the use of a baton, pepper spray or electroshock weapon. But also handcuffing a suspect or kicking in a door.

It is striking that last year a suspect died or was seriously injured 2,191 times as a result of the use of heavy force by the police. In 343 cases this was assessed as “not professional”. That is 15.7 percent. A year earlier this was 13.2 percent and in 2021 it was 10.1 percent.

According to police spokesperson Helma Huizing, an average of ten people die every year due to police intervention. Someone is considered slightly injured if “a plaster can be stuck on it,” Huizing told NU.nl. For example, suspects who are bitten by a dog or break their arm are considered seriously injured.

An action by the police is quickly characterized as “unprofessional”, says Huizing. For example, when an officer stood too close to a suspect when using pepper spray or sprayed pepper spray too often.

An increase in the number of reports of police violence can be explained by the fact that more separate reports have been registered since 2019. For example, when pepper spray, a baton and physical force are used to arrest a suspect, this is not recorded as one violent incident, but as three different incidents.

According to Frank Paauw, portfolio holder for Conflict and Crisis Management, the increase shows that the police are critical of their own actions. “Society can expect that we use violence lawfully and carefully.”

The figures show that officers used physical violence most often last year, namely 23,393 times. The baton was used 3,282 times and pepper spray 797. Officers drew a firearm 1,888 times and targeted shots were fired in 162 cases. The electroshock weapon was also threatened 2,609 times. It was actually deployed 1,168 times.

In nine cases last year, investigations into violence led to disciplinary action. This may involve a written reprimand or dismissal. One officer has been convicted following a criminal investigation.

The police are still conducting research into why police violence against suspects has increased, while the number of violent incidents against the police has decreased slightly. That research has not yet been completed, Huizing informed NU.nl.

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