The Dutch supreme court has overturned the acquittal of a woman who insulted four policemen four years ago.

She had been acquitted by two lower courts. They had judged that although the words the woman used, like "oaf", "bastard" and "loser" were insulting, policemen should be able to take them.

The Supreme Court disagrees and says that such insults are intended to harm the recipient's reputation, and are therefore punishable. The case has been returned to the court in Friesland's provincial capital Leeuwarden. It has been ordered to take into account the verdict of the Supreme Court.

Handcuffing a woman (Staged; photo: FlickR/Roolrool)