Social affairs ministry inspectors have fined several Dutch police forces for failing to protect staff against aggression and making them work long shifts, website nu.nl reports on Monday.

Inspectors monitored the length of shifts at 13 of the country’s 26 regional forces and found problems at all 13. By working too long, there is a risk police officers become over-stressed and less alert, the inspectors said in their annual report.
Nine of the 13 forces were fined for breaking working time agreements. All nine had been cautioned for similar problems during the last inspection in 2009.
In addition, nine forces were found not to be doing enough to protect police officers and staff against violence and aggression through training and registration systems. Three forces were fined because inspectors found similar failings in 2009.
Police unions told nu.nl they were not surprised by the results. ‘But it is disappointing. Improvements have been promised for years,’ Gerrit van de Kamp of the ACP is quoted as saying.