NS Wants to Arm Staff With Batons to Combat Violence
NS may temporarily arm 75 security officers to combat rising violence. While public debate heats up around effectiveness vs escalation risks, approval is pending from the Ministry of Justice.
NS (Dutch Railways) has requested permission from the Ministry of Justice and Security—and specifically the screening body Justis—to conduct a pilot program arming 75 of its 680 Safety & Service (S&S) security officers with short batons. This comes after a resurgence in violent incidents against staff, rising from 160 in 2019 to approximately 340 last year.
Why batons?
According to NS’s director of social safety, Itai Birger, their officers are increasingly confronting aggressive situations, and current tools—bodycams, handcuffs, protective gear—are no longer deemed fully adequate. Birger believes the baton could enhance both personal and public safety in such volatile scenarios.
Opposition & concerns
Reactions are mixed. Some security staff feel uneasy, stating they did not join NS to carry weapons . The Rover passenger association suggests NS should focus on "softer" measures—like improved station lighting and longer kiosk hours—to make trains more welcoming and avoid potentially escalating tensions.
Rudolf van der Haar, a former special enforcement officer and NS conductor, argues that body-worn cameras might be a more effective tool. He warns that batons could "provoke more aggression" and lead to inappropriate collective action by staff. Meanwhile, union voices like Patrick Fluuyd of ACP counter that well-trained baton use can be a necessary option when other de-escalation tactics fail.
Next steps
Justis has 13 weeks to assess the request. If approved, the baton pilot will be supervised by an outside research agency, including careful evaluation of outcomes, such as impact on incidents, injury rates, and dispute resolution .
