Parliamentary enquiryHow often are police officers injured by violent behaviour?

The two MPs introduced their questions by referring to the brawls that took place on National Day, noting that this is "not the first incident of the year during which on-duty officers were injured." They therefore addressed the following questions to Minister for Internal Security Henri Kox:

1. How many incidents took place over the past two years during which officers suffered injuries?
2. How long were the concerned officers unable to return to work afterwards?
3. Which measures are being taken to better protect officers from violence?
4. Given the recent incidents, is the government reconsidering the introduction of body cameras?

In his official response, Minister Kox conveyed that in 2019, 43 officers suffered injuries in violent situations, which lead to a combined total of 204 missed work hours. In 2020, 20 officers were injured, with 123 work hours being missed as a consequence.

Minister Kox further explained that officers receive full support if they suffer injuries while on duty. He noted that basic police training includes deescalation tactics, which are still considered the best way to avoid violence altogether.

In December last year, an enquiry was commissioned to determine whether new recruits are adequately prepared to deal with violent behaviour after finishing the academy. The results of this enquiry are scheduled for September this year, Minister Kox stated in his response.

Finally, he also noted that the use of body cams is still on the table, with respective analyses currently being undertaken.