Police officer slaps handcuffed woman during arrest in Nivelles, sparking public outrage

In Nivelles, Walloon Brabant, a video emerged showing three police officers attempting to load a handcuffed woman into a police van. The woman refused, and a male officer responded by delivering a forceful slap to her face before shoving her into the vehicle. The recording amassed hundreds of thousands of views, igniting a heated debate on social platforms, with many condemning the excessive force while a minority argued the officer had no alternative.

Mayor Bernard De Ro confirmed that an internal investigation has been launched to examine the circumstances leading up to the incident. Prosecutors cautioned the public not to draw conclusions from the online clip, emphasizing the need for a thorough inquiry. The episode follows recent scrutiny of police conduct in Europe, including a French officer under investigation for a separate violent encounter.