Municipalities have few plans for radicalization: report

Mayors are struggling with approaching radicals in their municipalities. Bernt Schneiders, President of the Dutch Association of Mayors, says that there are no ready-made plans of action and that municipalities are now trying to make "the best" of it, NOS reports.

Schneidesr, who is the mayor of Haarlem, wants knowledge about the approach on radicalised young people to be shared more effectively. It currently happens too little, he says. "We must join forces and bring experience together."

The Association also wants the government to make information from the National Coordinator Counter-terrorism and Security available. "Only then we can ensure that there are good programs", Schneider said. He also wants to make use of the knowledge of behavioral experts.

Schneders thinks it's good that mayors have the primary responsibility for addressing radicals. He stressed that the municipality is close to the population and often gets the first signs of radicalization.