More than 17,000 fines have been issued by the public prosecution service for breaching coronavirus rules in the Netherlands.

Figures released on Monday also showed that 337 corona-related cases have been prosecuted through the courts, mostly for threatening behaviour or deliberately coughing or spitting at public officials. In almost one-third of cases the target was a police officer.

The caseload includes three instances of violence against hospital staff and 24 shoplifting incidents in which a suspected thief coughed or spat in the face of staff who tried to stop them.

There were 1,641 cases of people being fined for not wearing face masks on public transport, which have been compulsory since June 1.

Prosecutors are also facing a barrage of appeals, with objections lodged against 6,872 of the 17,200 penalties imposed under the regulations that came into force in mid-March – nearly 40% of the total.

A further 23,300 infringements of regional emergency measures were recorded by community wardens.

The decrees were intended as a temporary measure until parliament passes an emergency law, but the cabinet’s first two draft bills were rejected by MPs.