Public Prosecution Service charges seven officers over detainee’s death
The officers are suspected of breaching the use-of-force guidelines during an arrest in Rotterdam in 2023.
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The Public Prosecution Service is prosecuting seven officers for their involvement in the death of a 32-year-old detainee in Rotterdam. The man died after being arrested, during which a Taser was used and he was restrained by several officers for a prolonged period.
According to the Public Prosecution Service, the arrest took place on 9 June 2023 on the ’s-Gravenweg. The Public Prosecution Service says police were initially called following a traffic incident in which a cyclist was allegedly involved in a collision with a car. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the man did not respond to officers’ instructions, after which one officer used a Taser.
When that had no immediate effect, more officers arrived at the scene. The man was eventually restrained by several officers. When the officers noticed that his condition was deteriorating, medical assistance was called and he was resuscitated. He later died in hospital.
According to the Public Prosecution Service, the investigation by the National Criminal Investigation Department led to the suspicion that the death may be explained by the way the man was restrained during the arrest. The seven officers are suspected of breaching the use-of-force guidelines, resulting in death, according to the Public Prosecution Service.
An eighth officer will not be prosecuted. According to the Public Prosecution Service, this officer was still in training and was carrying out instructions from colleagues of higher rank. The investigation, according to the Public Prosecution Service, found no evidence that this officer independently carried out actions that contributed to the death.
The case will be heard by the so-called Blue Chamber, the court that handles criminal cases against law-enforcement officers. Hearings are scheduled for 19 January and 15 to 18 February 2027. Prosecution is not a finding of guilt; that is for the judge to decide.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The Public Prosecution Service is prosecuting seven officers over a possible breach of the use-of-force guidelines resulting in death.
- An eighth officer will not be prosecuted.
- The judge has yet to rule on criminal responsibility.
Left
Arguments Emphasises that police use of force must be subject to strict scrutiny and that prolonged restraint can pose additional risks to vulnerable detainees.
Values Equal legal protection, oversight of state power and human dignity.
Consequences Fears that insufficient prosecution will damage citizens’ trust in the police and the rule of law.
Centre
Arguments Emphasises that officers must be able to act in difficult circumstances, but that independent investigation and judicial review are necessary.
Values Legal certainty, proportionality and institutional oversight.
Consequences Wants clear use-of-force guidelines and better training without making police action impossible in advance.
Right
Arguments Emphasises that officers need room to respond quickly to resistance and unpredictable behaviour.
Values Public order, officers’ safety and protection of authority.
Consequences Fears that prosecuting individual officers will cause caution and uncertainty in policing.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The core facts come directly from the current Public Prosecution Service statement. The text clearly distinguishes between prosecution and proven guilt.
- confirmed The Public Prosecution Service is prosecuting seven officers for involvement in the death of a detainee in 2023. — Current statement from the Public Prosecution Service. source
- confirmed An eighth officer is not being prosecuted because he was in training and, according to the Public Prosecution Service, made no independent contribution. — Current statement from the Public Prosecution Service. source
Editor's note
The decision to prosecute and the reason for discontinuing the case against one officer have been confirmed by the Public Prosecution Service. The question of guilt remains open.Sources
- Agenten vervolgd voor betrokkenheid bij dood arrestant ’s Gravenweg Rotterdam — Openbaar Ministerie
- OM vervolgt zeven agenten voor dood arrestant in 2023 — de Volkskrant
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „politie rotterdam”
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- Het Parool — „politie rotterdam”