Utrecht
mayor appeals to cabinet: 'To help with nuisance caused by Syrian asylum
seekers'
21/5/25 -
08:58
By:
redactie
Mayor
Sharon Dijksma made an urgent appeal to the cabinet on Tuesday evening in
Nieuwsuur to intervene in the nuisance caused by Syrian asylum seekers in
Utrecht. Especially on and around the square at the Bollendak, between Central
Station and Hoog Catharijne, young people have been causing problems for a long
time.
These
include shoplifting, intimidation, drug use and fights. Dijksma points out that
it is asylum seekers from all over the country who cause the nuisance in
Utrecht. "Of the 169, 94 come from 45 other municipalities, where they
have a place at a COA or guardianship institution," says the mayor in the
broadcast. "They should be there in the evening."
According
to her, the young people come to Utrecht for reasons such as 'entertainment',
'lack of perspective' and the possibility of committing thefts. According to
her, the location of Utrecht also 'simply' plays a role: it is the first large
station from the north, east and south. Cities such as Groningen, Arnhem and
Nijmegen are struggling with similar problems, according to Dijksma.
Call to
the government
The mayor
spoke with COA and guardianship institutions, which recognize that it is
difficult to get a grip on this group. That is why Dijksma repeats her appeal
to the cabinet: "The cabinet wants fewer asylum seekers, but these young
people are here, causing a lot of problems and will not leave for the time
being. And we say: the cabinet should not saddle the mayors of this country
with the consequences of this and should also just come to the rescue."
According
to VVD party leader Tess Meerding, there has been nuisance for some time, but
in addition to safe landers from countries such as Algeria and Morocco, there
are now more and more underage Syrian asylum seekers involved. "That was
not the picture before, but it is worrying that that group is also
joining," Meerding said in last night's broadcast.
Measures
On the
initiative of party leader Meerding, VVD, ChristenUnie and Utrecht! Now in
April I will submit written questions to the college on this subject. On
Tuesday 20 May, the municipal executive came up with answers. This showed,
among other things, that several extra measures have been taken due to recent
incidents in April.
For
example, the deployment of police and enforcement parties in and around the
station has been intensified. In April, the Perspectief Hotline also started
evening rounds in Hoog Catharijne and under the Bollendak and an 'Eropaf team'
is actively present in the station area.
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