Police taking industrial action in support of their play claim have failed so far to make it impossible for the justice ministry to send out some traffic fines, despite claims that this would start on Wednesday.

The police manage the computer system which is used to compile and send out fines on behalf of the justice ministry. The unions said last week they would change the software filter to stop it processing some fines and claimed this will cost the government €500,000 a day in lost income.

However, fines are still being issued as normal because it has proved more complicated to change the software than expected, ACP union spokesman Jan Smit told news agency ANP.

The justice ministry and police chiefs have also asked the unions to delay their campaign for two days to make sure there is no lasting damage to the computer systems, ANP said.

RTL news said later on Thursday the unions had abandoned their plan altogether.