Incidents of police violence stable at 36,151 last year; Fewer police shootings

After years of increases, the number of incidents in which the police used violence seems to be stabilizing, the police reported on Tuesday. Last year, police officers used violence 36,151 times, compared to 35,989 times in 2023. The use of firearms decreased. The police baton is the most often used weapon.

The apparent stabilization in police violence is “a positive development,” said Peter Holla, responsible for the police violence folder at the National Police. “But we do not yet know exactly what is causing it. We are conducting additional scientific research into this.”

Most of the incidents involved officers using their bodies to get a suspect under control. Cops used physical violence 23,912 times last year.

Firearm use decreased slightly. Last year, officers used their firearms 1,760 times (1,888 in 2023), firing 214 (162 in 2023) aimed shots. The Rijksrecherche, the department that handles internal investigations at the police, told NOS that cops fired their guns at people in 13 incidents last year. In 194 cases, the shooting was to “relieve a seriously injured animal from its suffering, and in 8 cases it was aimed at an aggressive animal,” the police said.

Batons were officers’ weapon of choice last year, getting used 3,176 times (3,282 in 2023). Cops also used their electric shock weapons 1,114 times (1,168 in 2023) and pepper spray 749 times (797 in 2023).

The police noted that 38 percent of incidents with force involved “people with incomprehensible behavior,” an increase of over 4 percent compared to 2023. “These people do not always need the police, but mainly help,” Holla said. “People with incomprehensible behavior are often unpredictable and therefore dangerous to themselves and their environment.”

Complaints about police violence increased last year. “Particularly regarding social unrest and demonstrations,” the police said, specifically mentioning Gaza-support blockades at the University of Amsterdam and climate activists blocking highways. A special team is investigating these reports, the police said.

The police stressed that officers used violence in less than one percent (0.74 percent) of responses. “Our most important weapon remains our mouth. Sometimes that is not enough and an officer has to decide in a split second to use force,” Holla said. “Force can also have a de-escalating effect. Threatening with a stun gun is often enough to get the situation under control.” The police did not say how many times they threatened someone with their electric shock weapon last year, but in 2023, it was 2,609 times.