Police chiefs are concerned about the integrity and behaviour of some new recruits, according to an internal report seen by the Telegraaf.

Since 2016, 69 recruits have been sacked and 168 have been investigated for breaking the rules, including drunk driving, using hard drugs and leaking police information. One officer was caught using laughing gas while driving and two others were guilty of rape and sexual assault, the paper said.

The researchers said that it would appear that some trainees only feel they are a police officer while at work, while others are not mature enough to take on the responsibility.

‘Something like using drugs, which is fairly widely accepted, is not tolerated within the police force,’ police chief Lonneke Soudant told the paper. ‘If you want to work for the police, you have to be aware of this.’ Soudant heads up the police integrity and complaints unit.

The report also showed that 17% of recruits in 2019 dropped out before completing their training.

Justice minister Ferd Grapperhaus said it was sensible of the police to be open about these problems. ‘Young police officers must realise that they have to adapt their behaviour,’ he said.