There was no overall rise in the number of aggressive and violent incidents in which police officers were targeted last year, but they were more likely to be attacked while dealing with domestic incidents and at demonstrations, according to new police figures.

In total, individual officers made 13,000 reports of being attacked or threatened last year, including 15 of attempted murder, the figures show.

While there were more violent attacks on the police during coronavirus demonstrations, often involving fireworks, there were fewer incidents involving people who were drunk and disorderly after a night out drinking or clubbing. This is because night life venues were closed for much of the year.

Police officers were subject to threats and violence 699 times while intervening in domestic violence cases – a rise of 100 on 2020. The number of incidences in which people drove at a police car more than doubled to 108.

Police spokesman Peije de Meij said police were concerned about the impact of an increasingly dissatisfied population and mounting aggression against both the police and others in public service jobs.

‘There are certain groups in society who no longer accept the authority of the government, emergency service workers and the police,’ he said. ‘The same thing is happening in science. Facts are becoming opinions which are questioned.’

Part of society, he said, no longer want to accept the norm. ‘It goes much further than the police,’ he said. ‘I think it important that politicians continue to show that violence against people in the public eye is unacceptable.’