Ombudsman will not investigate kicking policewoman

The national ombudsman Alex Brenninkmeijer will not be carrying out an investigation into an incident in which a policewoman was filmed kicking a drunken man but does plan a wider probe into police violence.


The ombudsman issued a statement on Tuesday saying eyewitness reports conflict with police evidence and there is not enough reason to suppose an investigation into the Rotterdam incident would clarify events.
The policewoman and a male colleague were filmed in June arresting a drunken man. The woman kicked the man several times as he lay on the ground, but a police investigation concluded excessive violence had not been used.
Nevertheless, Brennikmeijer said he still remained of the opinion that the police officer had used disproportional violence and there was no question of an emergency situation. ‘My preliminary research has not removed that impression,’ the ombudsman said.
The ombudsman did say he is to meet Rotterdam police chiefs to discuss the use of force by police officers and is to start a wider investigation into police violence in the autumn.

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