Two police officers acquitted of violence during demonstration against Covid measures

Two police officers who were accused of assault during a demonstration against Coronavirus measures at the Malieveld in The Hague on March 14, 2021 have been acquitted. The two officers used violence when they were arresting a demonstrator, but the Midden-Nederland court ruled that the violence was justified.

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) recommended 20 hours of community service against one of the officers last month. The officer was a dog handler. One of the demonstrators was bitten in the leg by a dog for a lengthy time during the demonstration. The OM did not recommend a punishment for a riot police officer who was involved, although according to the Public Prosecution Service, he was an accomplice.

The demonstrator was also hit on his body and his head while the dog was biting his leg. The court understands that this incident will have been very tough for the demonstrator. “But he had the possibility to leave, and he was told to do so loud and clear several times. Instead of that, he sought the confrontation and used violence against the police.”

In addition, the court emphasized that the officers had to take action, and ruled that the two did this justifiably “considering the circumstances.”

The demonstration was allowed to have a maximum number of people, but the activists did not adhere to this. As a result, the demonstration had to be ended.