The Maastricht public prosecution office is taking legal action against seven police officers and former officers of a Limburg police force for crimes which scuppered ten investigations, local broadcaster Limburg1 reports.

The officers allegedly used violence against suspects, filed false reports, conducted irregular searches of homes and fabricated evidence. Because of their action, cases had to be dropped rather than taken to court, the broadcaster quoted the public prosecution department as saying.

All officers worked at the Horst-Peel and Maas police force which earlier sacked five other officers for bullying, intimidation and abuse of power. Six others were reprimanded.

The situation in the Limburg force came to light in 2019. The public prosecution office has since looked at 1307 police files, of which 10 were found to contain irregularities.