Crime among refugees has decreased with the rise in the percentage of suspected minors.
A report from the WODC research center shows that the number of asylum seekers and residence permit holders suspected of involvement in crimes in the Netherlands has decreased, despite an increase in the number of residents in COA refugee reception centers. However, researchers warn of a rising percentage of minors among the suspects.
According to the report, 5,875 cases of suspicion were recorded in 2024, which is a 13% decrease compared to 2023. After removing duplicates in the cases, it was found that only 2,910 individuals were suspects, which is 3% of the total residents in COA centers. The crimes focused on thefts and burglaries, accounting for 68% of the total cases, which is lower than last year's percentage of 74%.
It is noteworthy that this decline in crime occurred despite the significant increase in the number of residents, which rose by 24% compared to 2023, reaching 66,450 people, while the rate in 2018 did not exceed 20,010. The report clarified that the accumulation of waiting periods at IND and the difficulty of transitioning residence permit holders to permanent housing due to the housing crisis contributed to refugees staying for long periods in temporary shelters.
Despite the overall decline in crime, concern is focused on minors, as their proportion among suspects has risen from 11% in 2023 to 22% recently. "Unaccompanied foreign minors" make up 8% of the residents in asylum centers, with 8% of them being suspects, which exceeds the average overall percentage. Researcher "Sanne Nuyen" stated that these figures are not surprising but concerning, emphasizing that these minors need special care and guidance just like Dutch teenagers.
The report indicated that asylum seekers from "safe" countries such as Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, who are not expected to obtain residency, top the suspicion rates. The rate was 36% among Algerians, 25% among Moroccans, and 17% among Tunisians. For its part, COA warned about the significant pressure on the quality of reception and care, noting that nearly half of the unaccompanied minors are residing in temporary places like hotels, contributing to a sense of insecurity and despair, and consequently to disturbing behaviors.