Dutch police officers did “not act professionally” when using force in 343 arrests last year, according to new official figures.

In total, three people died as a result of the police use of force in 2023 and four others died in incidents in which drink, drugs and a car chase were contributing factors.

The police used force – ranging from handcuffs and kicking down doors to drawing their guns – 35,000 times last year, a rise of 5% on 2022. But the number of incidents in which official procedures were not followed rose and now account for 16% of the total, the figures show.

The increase is largely due to the more critical approach the police are taking to assessing their own actions, police chief Frank Paauw said. “That is a positive thing,” he said. “Society expects us to use force correctly and carefully. And then can expect us, as the police, to learn from our mistakes.”

The police drew their guns 1,888 times last year and fired them in warning 92 times and directly 162 times. But on 133 occasions, shots were fired at seriously injured or aggressive animals.