Almost 17,000 Dutch teenagers were referred to the juvenile crime prevention service Halt last year, showing a stable pattern of referrals compared with previous years.

Three in 10 teenagers were sent to the Halt service for theft, making this the most common crime.

Physical violence accounted for 19% of referrals. This is double the 2012 figure but can be explained by changes in the way juveniles are sentenced in court, the organisation said.

Since 2012, judges are more likely to refer teenagers to Halt than to impose community service.

Impact

‘In the Halt system, youngsters are confronted with their behaviour and its impact,’ said director Arina Kruithof in a statement. ‘They apologise, pay for the damage and carry out specific tasks and parents are actively involved.’

Persistent truanting was the third most common offence, accounting for 16% of cases. Breaking the rules on fireworks and breach of the peace accounted for one in 10 of Halt teens’ crimes.