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Dutch Police Say Force at Zeist AZC Arrest Was Necessary

An internal review judged the use of force permitted but the police will not publish the detailed assessment, a choice that deepens questions about transparency in policing at reception centres.

Overview

  • Police concluded after an internal review that officers acted out of necessity during an arrest at the Zeist asylum seekers centre that took place in May.
  • Video of the incident showed an officer pull a pregnant woman to the ground; the woman was not hurt and her baby was born healthy shortly afterwards.
  • The review was carried out by a supervisor and the police’s internal force committee and was approved by the unit chief, yet police declined to release the committee’s full findings.
  • Authorities say the intervention followed reports of threats and damage that may have involved a knife and that officers had repeatedly asked the woman to step back before using force.
  • The case has drawn wide public attention after the footage went viral and could prompt renewed calls to change when police publish internal use-of-force assessments.