Holland has 1,828 street gangs
Tuesday 28 October 2008
The Netherlands has some 1,828 street gangs, at least 95 of which are involved in serious crimes, according to an investigation by RTL news.
The Rotterdam region has the most street gangs at 193, including 11 which are involved in serious crime. The Amsterdam area has 12 criminal gangs, the highest in the country, says the broadcaster.
Police commissioner Eric Akerboom told RTL that the force needed hundreds more police officers to deal with the growing nuisance caused by teenage gangs. ‘We need to double the number of juvenile crime officers,’ he said.
While a large proportion of the gangs are young Dutch Moroccan men, many Antillian and native Dutch youngsters are also involved. And mixed-race gangs are becoming increasingly common.
It must be hard to be a teenager when just hanging around on the street can have you branded as a gang member, says today's column...
© DutchNews.nl
Readers' comments
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Monday: Between 2º and 5º with light snow or sleet. Around zero at night. Similar Tuesday
Well it's no surprise! Kids don't get punished enough in there childhood.
Parents don't look what there kids are up to and with who they hang out.
The attitude of schools and parents has to change perhaps the kids are not the happiest anymore but it prevents from beeing a gang member later on ...
to much freedom can not be the answer..
By minnie | October 29, 2008 9:42 AM