The police unit wants to “partially disprove” the image officers saw when cars with KOZP protesters were attacked, a spokesman told the newspaper. Things got out of hand off the A28 near Staphorst on Saturday. Hundreds of rioters were there, who stopped and attacked the KOZP protesters.
A police van with six officers was present at the exit. They reportedly immediately requested reinforcements from the Mobile Unit (ME) when cars with KOZP protesters were attacked. But according to police, riot police were “quite hampered by blockages from tractors, for example” along the route. As a result, they arrived later.
According to the police, the six officers who were already present at the exit at the time estimated that those attacked were safer in their vehicles. They would also get that instruction from the control room. Intervening at that time could increase the risk to beleaguered protesters.
The Volkskrant reports that two hundred officers were on their way to the protest on Saturday. This is more than the average high-stakes football match, the newspaper reported. Police say they acted “in good faith”.
Whether the police effort was “too little or whether other circumstances played a role are questions we cannot yet answer,” a spokesman told the PNA later. “It is certain that some protesters and Amnesty observers have had to endure appalling moments and therefore are absolutely entitled to more clarity on our actions at the announced KOZP protest.”
Amnesty has accused the police of underdeployment
Saturday’s protest was banned by the municipality of Staphorst shortly beforehand, because the municipality could not guarantee the safety of the demonstrators. KOZP decided to demonstrate anyway. Amnesty International observers were also present. The human rights organization accuses the police of having deployed too few officers for the protest.
The public prosecutor (OM) launched an investigation on Saturday. Thursday night on RTV East program A closer look images of the protest are shown. Council has announced an independent investigation and police have previously said they are already critically examining their own actions.
In recent months it has happened more and more often that the action of the police has been prevented by the presence of heavy agricultural vehicles.
