The greater Amsterdam region experienced a 17% increase in registered crime in 2022, according to police chief Frank Paauw, who expressed concern over the increased use of fireworks as

weapons. Explosive attacks on homes and businesses have risen sharply, and authorities are struggling to track down suspects as victims are often not of good faith or reluctant to cooperate with police. Last year, the region saw 99 such incidents, compared with 43 during the pandemic year of 2021. Paauw also highlighted a record haul of smuggled cocaine at Amsterdam ports and a rise in cybercrime.

Despite efforts to tackle organized crime, cybercrime, and youth offences, studies into safety in Amsterdam, policing trends, and the regional safety report painted a concerning picture. Many decreases observed during the pandemic were reversed, and some sorts of crime bounced back harder. Reports of fraud and online crime also increased, while traditional crimes such as pickpocketing and burglary dropped by around 50% last year compared to 2019. Eleven people died violent deaths, a drop on previous years, but the "boundaries of violence" have shifted for the worse in organized crime.

The most worrying trend identified by authorities is the increase in violent crime among young people. While the proportion of young people in criminality is decreasing in general, there is a hardening and a shorter career path. Young people are committing violent crimes at an age that would normally be 10 or 15 years older. According to Paauw, serious drug criminals aim explicitly for extremely vulnerable young people, some with learning difficulties, offering them huge amounts of money. Preventing vulnerable young people from being tempted into crime and targeted by gangs is a political focus, along with prison programs to offer them other paths.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema called for more public awareness, particularly of potential online crimes. She warned that "digitally speaking, it is often an open house," and urged people to take digital security seriously, just as they would with physical security. The police and politicians are determined to tackle organized crime, cybercrime, and youth offenses, but the rise in registered crime last year presents a challenging picture for law enforcement.

In conclusion, the greater Amsterdam region experienced a worrying rise in registered crime in 2022, particularly in relation to violent crime among young people and explosive attacks on homes and businesses. While efforts are underway to tackle these issues, the increase in registered crime presents a challenging picture for law enforcement. Authorities are calling for more public awareness of potential online crimes and urging people to take digital security seriously. Preventing vulnerable young people from being tempted into crime and targeted by gangs is also a political focus. Photo by FaceMePLS from The Hague, The Netherlands, Wikimedia commons.