Police

Police in the Netherlands have confiscated more weapons from minors than ever before, with more than 2,300 seized in the past year. The figures show sharp rises in bladed weapons and firearms. Police warn that online influence is driving the trend.

Security removed Extinction Rebellion protesters from ING's annual meeting after they challenged the bank's investment records. While activists questioned the bank's role in the fossil fuel industry and occupied territories, executives maintained that their policy focuses on helping clients transition to greener energy.

Police in Rotterdam say a man is suspected of assaulting the same bus driver twice, first in March and again last Friday. Officers have released an image of the suspect and are appealing for witnesses.

The Dutch Cabinet has approved a new bill granting police expanded powers to collect and monitor personal data from public social media accounts to prevent public order disturbances. Minister David van Weel argued the legislation "brings the police into the 21st century," pointing to recent violent riots at the Malieveld as evidence that authorities need better tools to track online-organised unrest. While current rules only allow officers to view public information, the new law will permit the formal extraction and use of this data; however, the powers do not yet extend to private or closed groups, though future plans to include them are already under consideration.

Dutch police have launched a major investigation after hackers stole the personal data of 6 million Odido customers. Authorities are praising the telecom company's refusal to pay a ransom and are warning the public to stay alert for identity fraud. The case highlights the growing risks of sophisticated phishing attacks following large-scale data breaches.

The Big Brother Awards are an annual event in the Netherlands that "honours" the country's worst privacy offenders. This year, the police and tax authorities were among those called out for controversial surveillance and data practices. The event aims to raise public awareness about the risks of increasing digital control in modern society.

A nationwide technical failure has hit the dispatch systems used by Dutch emergency services, causing delays for those calling 112. The outage is also impacting the police non-emergency line, forcing authorities to rely on backup communication methods to reach officers on the street.

Two women involved in a violent incident with a police officer on the station square in Utrecht on Monday have announced their intention to...