Municipal enforcement officers to gain power to warn, refer minors starting June 1

Municipal enforcement officers in the Netherlands, known as BOAs, will receive expanded authority to handle minor offenses committed by youths beginning June 1, 2026, according to the Halt Foundation, an organization focused on preventing and addressing youth crime. The change will allow BOA’s working in public spaces to issue formal reprimands to minors or refer them directly to Halt for an educational intervention. The measure is intended to increase legal consistency and promote a more pedagogical approach in dealing with young offenders.

Youth crime in the Netherlands has dropped over the past 20 years, but the severity of offenses has increased. Under current rules, BOAs can only generally issue fines for most offenses. Police officers already have broader options in similar cases, including issuing reprimands or referring minors to Halt programs.

The expanded authority applies to minor offenses such as street nuisance, vandalism, and alcohol possession. Officials say the policy aims to keep minors out of the formal criminal justice system whenever possible. In some cases, fines can lead to a criminal record with potential long-term consequences.

The Halt foundation said the measure is supported by the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) and the Dutch police. After six months of implementation, the OM, police, VNG, and Halt will conduct a joint interim evaluation of the policy.