The number of asylum seekers involved in incidents at reception locations of the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) has been decreasing for two years in a row. But the number of incidents is increasing. It is striking that underage COA residents are increasingly involved in incidents.
These are incidents such as physical, verbal, and non-verbal aggression and violence. This also includes threats of self-harm and suicide. In total, 16,200 incidents were registered by the COA last year, an increase of 21 percent compared to 2023, reports the Scientific Research and Documentation Centre (WODC).
Each year, the WODC investigates how many asylum seekers and status holders are involved in crimes at COA locations. This concerns asylum seekers and status holders at temporary municipal reception locations, emergency shelters, and ordinary asylum seekers’ centers.
Striking is the share of minors in the number of suspects. In 2023, 11 percent of all suspects were minors. In 2024, this has risen to 22 percent.
The number of residents suspected of a crime has actually decreased. In total, 5,875 suspects were registered by the police. That was 13 percent less than in 2023.
It was already known that the number of asylum seekers in reception locations is higher than ever. This causes a clogged asylum chain. In 2024, an average of 66,450 asylum seekers were in reception locations daily, an increase of 24 percent compared to a year earlier. According to the WODC, some locations are so crowded that residents have little rest and privacy. This can have consequences for mental and physical well-being.