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Human rights

Global Patterns of Police Brutality: Lessons from Kenya, US, Netherlands, and France

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Recent revelations from the Netherlands show that Dutch police used violence 36,000 times in 2024, a staggering number that sheds light on the complexities and controversies surrounding police use of force worldwide. Amidst rising public outcry over police brutality in Kenya, it is clear that this challenge is not unique to its borders. Countries like the US, France, and the Netherlands offer valuable comparisons, revealing widespread concerns over police conduct, public trust, and proportionality of force. Despite their differences, these nations share common challenges, including underfunded training, staff shortages, and rising mistrust from the public.

Key Takeaways:

  • 36,000 instances of force used by Dutch police in 2024, with two-thirds involving subduing suspects during arrests, and 1,700 instances of officers drawing their firearms.
  • In the US, police killed over 1,200 people in 2023, disproportionately affecting black and latino communities, and rose to 1,365 in 2024.
  • France witnessed widespread unrest tied to police conduct, including the fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old in 2023, and Amnesty International criticizing the French police for "systemic abuse".
  • The Dutch data shows a troubling link between policing and mental health, with 38% of cases involving individuals with mental health conditions.
  • Despite two-year training programs that include modules on non-violent conflict resolution, Dutch police still face criticism for using excessive force, and a growing number of complaints about police conduct during demonstrations.
  • Kenya faces similar challenges, including underfunded training, staff shortages, and a growing number of violent encounters with civilians, including those suffering mental illness.
  • Global comparisons like the Dutch experience indicate that the quest for a more restrained, professional police force is a global one, and the clamor for the government to hold rogue officers accountable is renewed after the death of Albert Ojwang.
  • Dutch police have a clear use-of-force reporting system, unlike in Kenya, and countries like the Netherlands and UK have dedicated mental health protocols to handle psychiatric crises.

Statistics:

  • 36,000 instances of force used by Dutch police in 2024.
  • 1,700 instances of officers drawing their firearms in the Netherlands, with shots fired in only 13 cases.
  • 900 complaints about police conduct during demonstrations in the Netherlands in 2024, up from 750 the previous year.
  • 1,200 people killed by police in the US in 2023, disproportionately affecting black and latino communities.
  • 1,365 people killed by police in the US in 2024, making it the deadliest year since recording began in 2013.
  • 38% of cases involving individuals with mental health conditions in the Netherlands.
  • 295 incidents of disproportionate or inappropriate force in the Netherlands in 2024, according to internal investigations.

Sources:

  • Mapping Police Violence
  • Amnesty International
  • NOS (Dutch news broadcaster)
  • Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)
  • Amsterdam police chief Peter Holla
  • Dutch police academy spokesperson
  • Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa)

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