Dutch police were involved in 21 shooting incidents last year, resulting in two deaths and 25 injuries, according to public prosecution department figures.

All cases in which the police fire their weapons are formally investigated to ensure they were in line with official regulations for the use of fire arms. Two or three people are killed by Dutch police bullets every year.

Nevertheless, a study into police deaths in the period 2016 to 2020 by Bureau Beke found that around 10 people die every year in incidents involving the police. This figure also includes people who die in a cell, or because they have been drinking or taking drugs and come into contact with the police.

‘What stands out is that a large number of the victims appear to have multiple problems,’ justice minister Dilan Yesilgöz said in a briefing to MPs. ‘This may have become worse in the months preceding the incident and the coalition agreement stresses the need for good cooperation between the police and psychiatric services.’

The figures also show that a large number of the victims have a ‘non-western’ ethnic minority background. ‘The researchers have said that further study is need to determine why this is,’ the minister said.