In this video the Enforcement and Supervision Centre. It houses asylum seekers who have previously caused a serious nuisance in a regular asylum seekers’ centre, or azc. The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) responds to this with a punitive measure. Asylum seekers who cause serious problems are transferred to the HTL.
The Enforcement and Supervision Centre,
or HTL for short, is located in Hoogeveen.
It houses asylum seekers who have previously caused a serious nuisance
in a regular asylum seekers’ centre, or azc.
This might involve the destruction of property, aggression,
bullying or breaking house rules.
The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA)
Asylum seekers who cause serious problems
are transferred to the HTL for a maximum of three months.
They are also subjected to an area order.
This limits their freedom of movement drastically.
Transferring troublemakers to the HTL shows
that we do not tolerate antisocial behaviour.
This leads to improved security and quality of life
in and around asylum seekers’ centres.
Troublemakers who are sent to the HTL
but their movements are restricted.
The HTL is a gated community.
Inside the HTL, the COA works with the DJI,
the Custodial Institutions Agency.
DJI staff ensure that HTL residents comply
with the stipulations in their area orders.
Area orders reduce antisocial behaviour
outside the HTL to the bare minimum.
The house rules inside the HTL are
stricter than in a regular azc.
The asylum seekers attend an intensive, compulsory day
programme, including behavioural training.
They are also given conditions for
their asylum or return process.
Thanks to the HTL, regular azcs and surrounding
areas are safer and more secure:
for our staff, for the majority of asylum seekers who
do not cause trouble and for those who live near azcs.
To sum up, the Netherlands does not tolerate
antisocial behaviour by asylum seekers.
Troublemakers are dealt with severely.