Court confirms: police officer acted in accordance with the instructions on the use of force

The Blue Chamber of the Arnhem-Leeuwarden Court of Appeal has acquitted a police officer, represented by Floris Dudok van Heel, of all charges. The Court of Appeal thereby upholds an earlier ruling by the Midden-Nederland District Court that the policewoman acted reasonably and with due restraint, in accordance with the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity, when she fired five shots at a car that was driving away during a traffic stop.

The Public Prosecution Service argued on appeal that the District Court had attached too much weight to the suspect’s subjective perception. The Court of Appeal does not share this view and states:

“The Court of Appeal does not share this view and agrees with the defence counsel that the District Court’s reasoning shows that sufficient account was taken of objective facts and circumstances which support the defendant’s subjective perception.”

Read the full judgement here: https://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/details?id=ECLI:NL:GHARL:2026:6909

The previous judgement: https://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/details?id=ECLI:NL:RBMNE:2025:165