4.7.3.1. House rules and measures for disruptive applicants

icon for house rules and measures in reception

Managing applicants with disruptive behaviour remained a priority in the Netherlands. Efforts to set up new reception facilities were often undermined by the negative image given by a small group of applicants,653 in addition to other challenges related to cooperation with municipalities, such as funding modalities. The government has made funds available for financing local, small-scale measures implemented by municipalities since 2020, and in 2022, EUR 1.25 million were made available.654  A National Coordinator for Managing Disruption was established to coordinate among different stakeholders and ensure consistency across various measures.655 

Mobile Support Teams started visiting facilities where disruptions had a significant impact on residents’ daily lives and offered tailor-made support in managing the situations.656 Several AMIF-funded projects focused on establishing methods to counter disruptive behaviour, especially by unaccompanied minors (see Section 5).657 The special enforcement and supervision centre (HTL) in Hoogeveen for applicants with disruptive behaviour continued its operations. However, the Justice and Security Inspectorate investigated the living conditions and safety of residents in the centre.658 COA noted the difficult circumstances in which employees needed to manage potentially dangerous situations with these applicants and committed to work together with the inspectorate to implement the recommendations.659

The CJEU confirmed that sanctions under the recast RCD can also be applied when an applicant is seriously violent outside of the reception facility. However, a sanction related to the withdrawal of material reception conditions can only be imposed if it does not have the effect of depriving the applicant of the possibility of meeting the most basic needs (see Section 2.6).

  • 653Government | Rijksoverheid. (2022, September 12). Afschrift Brief TK besluitvorming opvangcrisis [Copy of the letter to the House of Representatives on decision-making on the reception crisis]. https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/rapporten/2022/09/12/ek-bijlage-2-tk-brief-besluitvorming-opvangcrisis
  • 654Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers | Centraal Orgaan opvang Asielzoekers. (2022, May 24). Ook in 2022 specifieke uitkering aan gemeenten [Specific payments to municipalities also in 2022]. https://www.coa.nl/nl/nieuws/ook-2022-specifieke-uitkering-aan-gemeenten; Government | Rijksoverheid. Opnieuw financiële ondersteuning voor gemeenten om overlast door asielzoekers tegen te gaan [New financial support for municipalities to combat disturbances caused by asylum seekers]. 24 May 2022. https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2022/05/24/opnieuw-financiele-ondersteuning-voor-gemeenten-om-overlast-door-asielzoekers-tegen-te-gaan
  • 655Ministry of Justice and Security | Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid. (2022, November 24). Voortgang aanpak overlastgevend en crimineel gedrag door asielzoekers [Progress in dealing with disruptions and criminal behaviour by asylum seekers]. https://open.overheid.nl/documenten/ronl-cb05038918466ce232e464408785e3c8c7a452f8/pdf
  • 656Ministry of Justice and Security | Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid. (2022, November 24). Voortgang aanpak overlastgevend en crimineel gedrag door asielzoekers [Progress in dealing with disruptions and criminal behaviour by asylum seekers]. https://open.overheid.nl/documenten/ronl-cb05038918466ce232e464408785e3c8c7a452f8/pdf
  • 657Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers | Centraal Orgaan opvang Asielzoekers. (2022). AMIF-projecten: opvang en begeleiding asielzoekers verbeteren [AMIF projects: improve reception and guidance for asylum seekers]. https://www.coa.nl/nl/amif-projecten-opvang-en-begeleiding-asielzoekers-verbeteren
  • 658Inspectorate of Justice and Security | Inspectie Justitie en Veiligheid. (2022, October 13). Leefomstandigheden en veiligheid HTL Hoogeveen moeten beter [Living conditions and safety in HTL Hoogeveen must improve]. https://www.inspectie-jenv.nl/toezichtgebieden/migratie/nieuws/2022/10/13/leefomstandigheden-en-veiligheid-htl-hoogeveen-moeten-beter
  • 659Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers | Centraal Orgaan opvang Asielzoekers. (2022, October 13). Aanvullende maatregelen htl na inspectierapport [Additional measures for htl after inspection report]. https://www.coa.nl/nl/nieuws/aanvullende-maatregelen-htl-na-inspectierapport