# Police suspect records at asylum shelters rise 23% in 2025

> Police made 7,515 suspect records of people living in COA centres or municipal shelters in 2025, and 3% of all residents (3,270 people) were suspected of a crime, the WODC research centre reports.

Migration · published 2026-11-04 06:32 · https://nlnow.nl/a/suspects-among-asylum-shelter-residents-rise-23-in-2025/

Police made 7,515 suspect records of people staying in a COA asylum centre or temporary municipal shelter when the offence happened in 2025, 23% more than in 2024. The WODC published the figures on 2 July. Average daily occupancy rose 7% over the same period, to 72,020 people.

Of the 112,745 people who stayed in the shelters in 2025, 3% (3,270 people) were suspected of a crime and 11% were involved in an aggression or violence incident. Of all unique suspects in the Netherlands in 2024, 2% were shelter residents. The WODC says the data cannot show what the 2025 rise is due to, and that there is no direct relationship between the number of people housed and the number of suspects.

**Asylum shelters: suspect registrations rose 43% since 2019 while occupancy roughly tripled** (registrations; source: WODC)

- 2019: 5260
- 2020: 4605
- 2021: 4255
- 2022: 6090
- 2023: 6985
- 2024: 6095
- 2025: 7515

Property crime made up 64% of records, and shoplifting alone 36%. Among suspects in the general population the property share was 33% in 2024; the WODC says age and socioeconomic differences may explain the gap. Suspects were 97% male, 52% were aged 18-29 and 21% were minors. Of unaccompanied minors, 8% were suspected of a crime.

COA recorded 17,750 incidents in 2025, up 6% from 16,740, and imposed 13,205 measures, up 9%. Measures are now 4.2 times the 2019 level, incidents 2.5 times. The WODC says this suggests COA staff handle incidents differently than before.

The Public Prosecution Service disposed of 4,145 cases involving shelter residents and issued a summons in 59% (65% in 2024, against 42% for the general population). Courts ruled in 1,810 cases and found the suspect guilty in 95%. Prison or juvenile detention made up 72% of sentences, down from 81% in 2024; for the Dutch population it was 36% in 2024.

The WODC says comparisons with the general population are context only and not sound, because age and sex differences are not controlled for. Earlier research found differences in crime involvement disappear once such characteristics are taken into account. The next edition is due in mid-2027.

## Background

- **COA (Centraal Orgaan opvang asielzoekers)**: The independent government body that houses and looks after asylum seekers while their applications are processed. It runs reception centres across the country and falls under the minister responsible for asylum and migration.
- **WODC (Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek- en Documentatiecentrum)**: The WODC is the research and documentation centre of the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security. It carries out and publishes independent research and statistics on criminal justice, safety, migration and asylum policy. Its reports are a standard source for government and public debate on these topics.
- **OM (Openbaar Ministerie)**: The Public Prosecution Service is the Dutch authority responsible for criminal prosecution. Prosecutors decide whether a suspect is prosecuted, can settle minor cases with a fine or other measure, or issue a summons (dagvaarding) to appear in court, and they present the case and demand a sentence before the judge. It also enforces court sentences.

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