Netherlands see more violence against aid workers during New Year Eve

The Netherlands began the new year with fewer incidents, but with more violence against aid workers and other people with a public task during New Year Eve, the Dutch police said on Sunday.

The turn of the year 2016 to 2017 had about 6 percent fewer incidents than the previous one, the police said in a statement.

From 0:00 of Dec. 31, 2016 to 8:00 a.m. Jan. 1, 2017 local time, a total of 7,114 incidents were recorded in the country, compared with the 7,558 incidents of the previous New Year Eve, according to figures revealed by the police.

The number of violent incidents against police and aid workers rose, especially caused by an increase of verbal abuse.

This year, a total of 79 times violence was used against police officers (last year 59 times) and the number of incidents against other aid workers, firefighters, paramedics and security personnel also increased.

"This increase causes us all great concern," said Henk van Essen, deputy police chief, in a statement. "New Year's Eve cannot be seen as an opportunity to go beyond all boundaries."

One police officer was seriously injured after he was hit by a car in The Hague. This agent is still in critical condition in hospital. During the resuscitation of the victim, police and ambulance crews were pelted with stones and fireworks.

"It is unacceptable that aid workers are once again prevented to do their work," said Van Essen. "These people are present for everyone's safety. You need to leave them alone. I think it's too bizarre for words that some people apparently like to prevent firefighters and other workers to help other people."

The number of arrests slightly increased by 2 percent compared with the previous year-end, mainly concerning the heavier categories. In 2015, 482 people were arrested, this year about 492 people or more. Enditem