Dutch police to disarm hundreds of officers

Hundreds of police officers in the Traffic Accident Analysis and Forensic Detection departments will no longer carry guns as of January 1st, 2019, the Telegraaf reports based on sources within the police.

A police chief told the newspaper that most of the people in these two departments already don't carry a weapon out of their own choice. "They chose a specialty where that is not necessary; and moreover we have many people from outside of the police who never carried a weapon."

Many police officers are critical of this decision, according to the newspaper. "Experience shows that in traffic arguments motorists or passengers often show very aggressive behavior", one police officer said to the newspaper. "You could also encounter heavily armed ATM bombers at night, or criminals on their way to assassinate someone."

The plan to disarm traffic police officers was first discussed in May. It was then put on hold due to dissatisfaction among the police officers.