Over 800 serious incidents at asylum centers reported

The police received 813 reports of serious incidents at asylum centers or emergency shelters for asylum seekers during the first half of this year. The incidents mostly involved theft, violence and sex crimes, State Secretary Klaas Dijkhoff of Security and Justice wrote to parliament on Monday, the Telegraaf reports. A total of 166 of these cases were handed to the Public Prosecutor. The Prosecutor has 192 persons of interest or suspects in these cases. Of the suspects that went to trial so far, nearly 90 percent were found guilty. Two criminal asylum seekers were extradited or deported during this time period. 16 others had their residency permit denied or withdrawn because they were convicted of a crime. Dijkhoff also sent parliament an overview of all incidents recorded by the police and the COA, the central agency for asylum reception. The COA recorded a total of 9,100 reports, the police 3,600. According to him, these figures don't say anything about the severity, scope and content of the reports. Most of the reports the COA recorded involved breaking the house rules, for example by being too noisy or messing with the fire alarm. The police also record help granted, in for example missing person cases or when paramedics were needed.