Police used force more often last year than in the previous year, according to figures released on Wednesday. Police deployed officers more than 2.6 million times. They used force in 25,163 cases, representing a nearly 9 per cent increase. Police say this rise is partly linked to the higher number of deployments.
Nearly a third of all incidents involving force occurred during arrests. There was a notable increase in physical force, which rose from 24,300 cases in 2024 to 26,502 last year. This includes arrests made at demonstrations, said Corry van Breda, the police portfolio holder. Earlier this month, figures also showed a rise in serious violence against police officers. “Our actions are always related to the behaviour of others,” Van Breda said.
Most police units reported a slight increase in incidents involving the use of force. The rise was particularly strong in Rotterdam and East Brabant. In Rotterdam, incidents increased by nearly 42 per cent, while East Brabant saw an increase of about 15 per cent.
Police used several methods of force more frequently in 2025 than in 2024, including the service dog, the stun gun, the spit mask and the extendable baton. Police are also exploring new methods. The Mobile Unit is testing a larger canister of pepper spray and a tear-inducing agent added to the water used by water cannons. Police union ACP calls for the quicker introduction of these methods.
Police reviewed its use of force in 1,686 cases last year. In 369 cases, police concluded that the force used did not comply with their own rules, although this does not necessarily mean it was unlawful. Police imposed sanctions in 15 cases, including two instances of conditional dismissal.
“A great deal is simply going well,” Van Breda said. “And where things are not going well, we take that seriously and learn from it.” Police have paid more attention in recent years to improving how incidents of force are recorded. Van Breda noted that this still needs further improvement.
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