AMSTERDAM police have strongly defended their force's tactics after shocking footage emerged of plain clothes officers kicking and kneeing supporters. DUTCH police chiefs yesterday admitted beating up fans, saying: That is how we work. They said their own officers were attacked during violent disorder involving Celtic fans in Amsterdam. And they insisted that, although the officers fought back, they were only defending themselves. Yesterday’s Record featured shocking footage of plain-clothes officers savagely kicking and kneeing supporters as they arrested them. Some fans said they confused undercover operatives with Ajax hooligans because the police failed to identify themselves. But Amsterdam police spokesman, Inspector Rob van der Veen, strongly defended his force’s tactics. He said: “We only use violence when we get violence in our direction. “We defend ourselves. That is how we work.”
But Mr van der Veen dismissed fans’ claims of strong arm tactics, saying: “We don’t attack people. What we do is focus on a person who has to be arrested. “Two officers in plain clothes will get hold of the guy, and a few other officers make a sort of ring round them to make sure they can do their work and take out the person that has to be arrested. “If there is any violence or threat of violence in the direction of these officers, then of course we don’t ask, ‘Could you stop that?’ “We do not walk towards someone and say, ‘Hey, hello, we are from the police. You are being arrested, could you walk with us please?” Mr van der Veen said police were pelted with bottles by Celtic fans. He added: “We see that as a crime. “Some people were arrested, then a group started to attack the officers in plain clothes. During that period, a lot of bottles were thrown by Celtic fans.”
