On average, measures were required every day in the past year against residents of the asylum seekers’ center (azc) in Budel. In forty cases, an asylum seeker’s offense was so serious that he had to be transferred to the Enforcement and Supervision Location in Hoogeveen, Drenthe.
Refugees who cause a lot of nuisance in an asylum seekers’ center reside in this complex. This includes vandalism, bullying and aggression and/or often flouting the house rules. Last year, eight weeks of pocket money was withheld from thirty residents of the asylum seekers’ center in Budel because of one or more of these violations.
Parliamentary questions about persistent nuisance
State Secretary Eric van der Burg of Justice and Security informs Joost Eerdmans of JA12. The Member of Parliament had asked questions about ‘Budel’. The reason was, among other things, reports from Omroep Brabant about persistent nuisance in and around the asylum seekers’ center. Van der Burg also reported that he will shortly provide more details about the incidents at this reception center, but also about those at the other locations in Brabant where asylum seekers are staying.
The State Secretary is hopeful that peace will return with the measures announced in March. Van der Burg points to, among other things, a specially placed fence around the former German barracks and regular room checks.
Van der Burg does not want to accept closure
The minister realizes that the city council of Cranendonck, which Budel falls under, has decided to stop the asylum seekers’ center after 1 July 2024. The inhabitants of the municipality and politicians are tired of the problems caused by some of the asylum seekers. Nevertheless, the Secretary of State is keeping his spirits up.
Van der Burg: “Given the current reception capacity, also in light of the crisis in Ukraine, it is not desirable that reception places are lost. Whether there is room for a reception location in Cranendock after 1 July 2024 will have to become clear in due course. Discussions will be held about this in the coming period.”
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