Dutch police to get new batons, but no tasers

Minister Ard van der Steur of Security and Justice and the National Police decided against arming Dutch police officers with tasers and spike strips. Instead officers will be equipped with a new extendable baton from 2018. "According to experts and scientists, it is better not to introduce two new instruments simultaneously. We now chose for the extendable batons. Previous experiments were done with the baton and they went well", a spokesperson for the National Police explained the decision to Dutch newspaper AD. "It is also no secret that we are facing financial challenges at the police. Choices must be made." The extendable baton has the advantage of being easier to carry, hopefully eliminating the problem of the new police uniforms causing officers to trip over their short batons. It is also made of harder material and therefore more effective.