Toolbox for local approach to dealing with nuisance asylum seekers

Today, Minister for Migration Ankie Broekers-Knol (Asylum and Migration) presented a toolbox equipped with measures for dealing with problematic asylum seekers. The toolbox sets out all the tools available to municipalities, retailers, staff working in the migration chain, public transport operators and other parties who have to deal with nuisance caused by asylum seekers. There are more than 70 measures, ranging from the deployment of camera surveillance and additional security to imposing a registration requirement or an area ban. The approach to dealing with nuisance requires the above parties, the police and the Public Prosecution Service to collaborate closely. The toolbox provides guidance in this area. Through these measures, Minister for Migration aims to further strengthen the approach to dealing with persons causing nuisance.

Today, Minister for Migration Ankie Broekers-Knol (Asylum and Migration) presented a toolbox equipped with measures for dealing with problematic asylum seekers. The toolbox sets out all the tools available to municipalities, retailers, staff working in the migration chain, public transport operators and other parties who have to deal with nuisance caused by asylum seekers. There are more than 70 measures, ranging from the deployment of camera surveillance and additional security to imposing a registration requirement or an area ban. The approach to dealing with nuisance requires the above parties, the police and the Public Prosecution Service to collaborate closely. The toolbox provides guidance in this area. Through these measures, Minister for Migration aims to further strengthen the approach to dealing with persons causing nuisance.

'Nuisance is unacceptable and undermines public support for assisting people who really need our protection because they are fleeing war or persecution', says Minister of Migration Broekers-Knol. 'We really need the assistance of the municipalities, the Public Prosecution Service, the police and all other parties concerned to help deal with nuisance. They are often best-placed to assess which approach is appropriate for local problems.'

The vast majority of the asylum seekers in the Netherlands do not cause any problems. However, a relatively small group do cause problems, such as by shoplifting, vandalising and threatening others. Simply deporting persons who cause a nuisance is not an option during the asylum procedure, partly in view of international laws and regulations. A watchful eye will therefore be kept on persons causing a nuisance with a mix of national and local measures. An Enforcement and Supervision Location (HTL) with a strict regime has been opened in Hoogeveen, where persons causing serious problems can be transferred, and facilities operated by the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) have been equipped with time-out facilities where persons causing problems can be temporarily placed separately in a sober environment. The Minister for Migration has also made a financial arrangement available to municipalities for the deployment of measures tailored to the local situation to tackle problems.

During the past eighteen months, four chain marines have been appointed who have been tasked with helping the various parties concerned in jointly dealing with problems. 'We want to use all the possibilities offered to deal with persons causing problems', says chain marine Cor de Lange. 'The most important condition is that we collaborate effectively, and the toolbox will help us with that.' Based on the toolbox, the chain marines will discuss additional measures with local parties for preventing problems.