Dutch prosecutors plan tougher demands for attacks on emergency workers

Under a guideline the College of Procurators General intends to bring in on Thursday, prosecutors would generally seek twice the punishment they would seek for a comparable offence against someone who is not an emergency worker. A prison term, rather than a fine or community service, would become the starting point for their demands. Courts would still decide the sentence. [1]

Justice Minister David van Weel gave parliament an example involving attempted serious assault on an emergency worker, with no weapon, previous offence or injury. Prosecutors would in principle seek three months in prison, compared with 80 hours of community service if the victim were not an emergency worker. [1]