Last year 126 Dutch police officers were sacked or suspended because of integrity issues, the Telegraaf said on Wednesday, quoting police figures.

18 were sacked for leaking or abusing secret police information and 30 for drugs and alcohol abuse – including 11 for drunk driving. Sixteen officers lost their jobs for discrimination or sexual offences.

Among the cases highlighted by the Telegraaf were one officer who was sacked for tipping of criminals about a pending raid and another for having webcam sex while on duty with a woman who claimed to be a 17-year-old girl.

In total, 1,473 police officers were investigated, a sharp rise on 2015, the paper said. However, this is largely due to changes in the way cases were registered. In 384 cases, the investigation has not yet been completed.

Trial

The figures are due to be sent to parliament this week. In total, some 60,000 people work for the police.

A former police officer known as Mark M is currently on trial accused of systematically leaking information to criminals for four years.

M. is alleged to have run a network of underworld clients while training in the police force and passing on files from the police data system. An investigation found he had made 30,000 inquiries about 23 cases.