Dutch police unions said on Wednesday they plan to take industrial action during the start of the Tour de France cycle race next week.

The Grand Depart takes place in Utrecht and the riders are due to cross the Erasmus bridge at Rotterdam on the afternoon of Sunday, July 5. However, police are planning to hold up the event by setting up a traffic checkpoint to examine the cars in the tour procession which proceeds the cyclists.

‘We chose this location because it is a safe place, without public,’ ACP chairman Gerrit van de Kamp said. ‘Police vehicles will be placed on the bridge and there will be police boats on the water. A large number of police officers will be on hand to carry out the checks.’

Any plans to move the route will not work, because the police will move their traffic controls, the unions said.

Public safety

Justice minister Ard van de Steur, who is negotiating with police on a new pay deal, said if it transpires that public safety is at risk, he will take legal action.

Rotterdam mayor Achmed Aboutaleb said he is extremely sorry that the police plan to disrupt an event which so many cycling fans look forward to.

Police unions have been campaigning for 15 weeks for a pay rise and say this protest is to show the public they mean business.

The unions are demanding a 3.3% pay rise to end a four-year pay freeze, as well as measures to enable older police officers to retire before the age of 67 and compensation for the effect of the recent major reorganisation of policing operations.