A police officer who used violence against two women in Utrecht last week is being threatened, according to the police. Chief of Police Janny Knol announced this in an email on Thursday message said on LinkedIn. The man and his family live “temporarily elsewhere”.
It concerns a police officer who used his baton against two veiled women in the Hoog Catharijne shopping center. He makes a kicking motion at one of them. This can be seen on videos of the incident, which have led to many reactions on social media.
The police have a monopoly on violence, which means that officers may use force under certain circumstances. “As usual, the violence used in Utrecht and the circumstances under which it occurred are being tested,” Knol writes. “The results will be known soon. But whatever the outcome, the threats against the police officer involved go beyond all bounds.”
The police are expected to provide more clarity about the assessment of the violence next week. According to the two women, excessive force was used and the officer made discriminatory statements. They have indicated that they will file a report.
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