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Rotterdam police in new row over 'excessive' violence against suspects

Police in Rotterdam are facing more accusations of unprofessional conduct after a second film emerged of an officer lashing out against a suspect.

The film, posted on YouTube, showed a 20-year-old man from Zwijndrecht being arrested. When the suspect resists, an officer appears to punch him in the face before chasing and eventually handcuffing him.

It is the second time this week that footage of police using violence during an arrest has provoked outrage. On Monday a video appeared showing a female police officer kicking a drunken man in Rotterdam.

Local councillor Arno Bonte said the film was “shocking and alarming” and said it showed police using “excessive violence”.

Police union spokesmen issued a robust defence of their actions and accused politicians of reacting too quickly.

Jan Willem van de Pol, chairman of the Dutch Police Union (NPB), said: “Again we are looking at a film, not from the beginning, which is put up in the raw and we have no idea what went on before.”

The union said the officers involved acted properly and punched the suspect as a corrective measure.

“This is not the first time that politicians have been so quick to react to an incident. What worries us most is that nobody is making the effort to wait for an investigation or listen to what exactly went on.

“We are angry that people engage in such rash bluster without considering how much damage it can do to police organisations in general and police officers in particular.”

Source: De Volkskrant: Politie verontwaardigd over reacties filmpjes

Still taken from YouTube footage. Watch the video here.

Read previous story: No action against police officer who kicked drunken man in doorway