More Force, More Frequently
Arrests remained the most common reason force was applied, accounting for close to a third of all such incidents. Physical force saw a notable climb, rising from 24,300 cases in 2024 to 26,502 in 2025. Corry van Breda, the police portfolio holder overseeing use-of-force matters, noted that some of these cases were tied to arrests at public demonstrations.



The rise wasn't spread evenly across the country. Rotterdam stood out sharply, recording a nearly 42 percent increase in force-related incidents. Oost-Brabant followed with a rise of around 15 percent, while most other units reported smaller but still noticeable upticks.



Equipment use also increased across the board. Police dogs, stun guns, spit masks, and extendable batons were all deployed more frequently compared to 2024. Trials are currently underway for new tools, including a larger pepper spray canister and a tear-inducing agent that can be added to water cannon tanks.

The police union ACP has been pushing for faster rollout of these measures, particularly for riot units handling violent protests.

Accountability and What Comes Next
Of the 1,686 incidents that went under in-depth review last year, investigators found that 369 did not meet proper police regulations. Only 15 of those resulted in sanctions, with two involving conditional dismissals.



Van Breda was quick to put those num.