EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Youth crime is rising in Amsterdam

Youth crime is rising in Amsterdam

Introduction

The proportion of young people included in the Amsterdamse Veiligheidsrapportage 2007 (Amsterdam Security Report) is causing the city concern. 46 percent of all street robberies in 2007 were perpetuated by 12 to 17 year olds. Reports of youth nuisance rose from about 6,000 in 2006 to more than 7,000 in 2007. The so-called 'triangle' in Amsterdam of Mayor, Chief of Police and Chief Prosecutor wish to continue with the existing security policy in the capital. A mainstay of this approach is the combination of punishment and care.

Proposition

Which of the goals of the 'Regionaal Veiligheidsplan 2007-2010' for the municipality of Amsterdam have been achieved?

Description

The regional security report is primarily concerned with monitoring the main goals of security policy. On the basis of this report it can be determined whether the priorities and goals of security policy need adjustment. The objective goal of the municipality of Amsterdam is: "To improve objective and subjective security by reducing crime and nuisance".

The report draws on a number of resources, including data from the Public Prosecution Service concerning the inflow and handling of cases, as well as the Monitor for Liveability and Security. In addition, various information systems are used to collect data on objective and subjective security:

HKS (size of the target groups),
X-Pol (recorded reports of crime, misdemeanours and incidents),
NSA (reports made to the police about nuisance/crime),
Tobias (information about Streetwise, stops).

Conclusions

A number of conclusions from the report:

Nuisance in public spaces was reported more frequently to the police in 2006 than in 2005. The figures for 2007 suggest a further increase in the number of reports;
In Amsterdam the reports of shop theft increased by 29 percent in 2007;
The amount of robberies on businesses and business people increased by 37 percent;
The amount of reports of theft/burglary has remained constant in Amsterdam;
The amount of reports of drugs/drink nuisance, youth nuisance, neighbour squabbles and traffic incidents increased with respect to 2006;
The size of the priority target group hard core youth is 746 (national definition). This is more than 100 less than in 2006 and roughly equal to 2005;
The amount of lawsuits involving underage suspects rose by 6 percent compared to 2006;
In 2007, the amount of cases with a previously known perpetrator was 24,749. The goal of reaching 26,063 cases in 2007 was not reached. The amount of cases with a previously known perpetrator was 26 percent of all reports. The goal of at least 24 percent in 2007 was thus reached.

Contact info

Gemeente Amsterdam
Directie Openbare Orde en Veiligheid, afdeling communicatie
1011 PN Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Phone: 0031 (0) 20 5522048
info@eenveiligamsterdam.nl
http://www.eenveiligamsterdam.nl/

Publication date

24/04/2008

Project finished

24/04/2008

Researcher

City of Amsterdam

Click here to download "Regionale Veiligheidsrapportage Amsterdam-Amstelland 2007" (NL, PDF, 2.33 MB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy

Keywords

Security & crime prevention