Dutch police began taking industrial action on Monday in support of a pay claim and other changes to their working conditions.

The work to rule means the police will write out fewer tickets than usual, focusing on ‘major’ public order incidents rather than petty crime.

However ‘public misuse’ of the citizen friendly campaign will not be tolerated, news agency ANP reports. This means people who deliberately urinate in public or cycle on the pavements in full view of the police will not be let off.

In addition, traffic police who monitor the roads for speeding offences are not taking part in the industrial action.

The police, who have had their pay frozen for the past four years, are demanding a 3.3% pay rise.

Justice minister Ivo Opstelten has dismissed the claim as ‘unrealistic’.