Problems

The figures on serious problems are based on the National Safety Monitor 2008, a survey held by Statistics Netherlands, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, and the Ministry of Justice.
This survey among people aged 15 years and older (excluding the institutional population) was conducted form January to mid-March 2008. As the figures are based on a sample survey (approx. 20 thousand people), they are subject to a margin of error.

The survey question was:
‘I ‘m going to mention a number of annoying incidents and crimes which may occur in the area where you live. I’d like to know whether, in your opinion, these incidents and crimes occur often, sometimes, or never or hardly ever.’
The problems were formulated as follows:
• Drunks on the street
• People being harassed on the street
• Problems caused by drugs dealers and users 
• Problems caused by neighbours 
• Problems caused by groups of youths

The answer categories were:
• Often
• Sometimes
• Never or hardly ever