Neighbourhoods not origins foster crime
A report by the Verwij-Jonker Institute at the University of Utrecht concludes that the likelihood of a child becoming involved in crime is often determined more by the neighbourhood in which he or she grows up than by the ethnic origins of the parents.
The researchers found that children growing up in neighbourhoods with much crime and drug use tend to believe that criminal behaviour is normal. They also observed that a bad school career and criminal friends play a large role. The researchers say the fact that there is more criminal behaviour among immigrant youths than native Dutch youths is largely because more immigrant youths live in poor neighbourhoods.
The researchers expect that recently announced plans by Housing Minister Ella Vogelaar to invest one billion euros in improving seven ‘problem’ neighbourhoods in Rotterdam will go a long way to reducing criminal behaviour among the younger residents.
Source: Radio Netherlands, 25 June 2008
