Police report: Two cops used excessive violence during demonstrations on UvA premises
The police have come out with a report evaluating their own actions during the UvA demonstrations in the second week of May. The police acknowledge that a lot of violence was used, but say the distinction between “well-intentioned protesters” and “malicious rioters” could not always be made.
During last May’s demonstrations at various UvA locations, a lot of violence was used, the police frankly admit in their own evaluation report Violence Use by Police at Demonstrations from 6 to 13 May, which the Amsterdam Police Unit released yesterday. In doing so, the police twice overstepped their own bounds, that is, in two cases the police’s actions did not meet their own assessment framework for the use of force and can therefore be qualified as ‘excessive’.
In the second week of May, pro-Palestinian demonstrations and occupations took place at various UvA locations involving staff, students, as well as outsiders. At times when the situation threatened to get out of hand, the UvA reported this to the police several times on grounds of inheritance or local dishonour, especially since considerable damage was caused. The UvA made several reports, followed by police deployment of the mobile police unit (in Dutch: ME).
Hitting “the big muscle groups”
Things went hard those days, regularly resulting in physical injury. “When using the truncheon, officers are taught to hit the large muscle groups (legs and arms). As people are always moving, a blow from the truncheon may have unintentionally landed on other body parts,” the report says. Incidentally, several protesters did not experience this as unintentional, they later revealed to various media.
Incidentally, the police let it be known that its own people too “had to endure considerable violence,” particularly during the 6 May occupation of the REC, where 164 people were eventually arrested for overt violence and trespassing. These cases were all dismissed by the Public Prosecutor, however, because there could be no question of trespassing as the REC “is a university site, but also a publicly accessible area”.
Anarchist groups
Besides the REC, demonstrations and occupations also took place on and near the Binnengasthuisterrein (BG), in front of the Maagdenhuis and on Science Park. On the BG site in particular, bricks flew through the air. According to the police, all the demonstrations involved “a mixture of peaceful protesters with activists with other motives”. According to it, the methods of action bore “much resemblance to those of far-left and/or anarchist groups”. Police speak of “hijacking” of demonstrations by activists
Because demonstrations were not reported in advance, the police said they had “less time” to facilitate the demonstrations and map out the distinction between “well-intentioned demonstrators” and “malicious rioters”. Protesters were warned several times by the police to leave, but many protester and did not hear this “and were therefore shocked by the violence by the police”.
Learning point, the police themselves write: “It is important that the demand [to leave] is made even more audible and also spoken in English, so that it is certain that all protesters are reached.” In future, the police also aim to take “more time” and act “more thoughtfully” before clearing tent camps such as on the REC.
“Unnecessary violence deployed”
The police admitted that the violence by the police, but also the extent of resistance, were “highly exceptional”. The evictions were sometimes “hard hitting” and the images are profound, the police realise. “In some cases, the police used unnecessary force. This should not have happened and the police are committed to preventing this in the future.” A total of 59 complaints were made about the police action, but in 35 of these, the complainants lacked direct interest as they were not present at the demonstrations. Thus, there are 24 who reported having suffered physical (23) or mental (1) harm. Six reports have been filed against the police and one is still being recorded. “The assessment of the reports by the prosecution will help form an overall picture,” the police say.
