How many girls are suspected of crimes?

In 2023, 4.2 thousand girls aged between 12 and 17 were recorded as criminal suspects, out of a total of 17 thousand young people suspected of crimes. Shoplifting was a particularly common crime for young suspects, both male and female. Relatively few young females were suspected of violent crimes, traffic offences or drug offences, by contrast.

In 2023, the number of young females aged 12–17 suspected of a crime fell by 8 percent relative to 2022, when it had increased by 47 percent. Young males were more likely to be suspected of a crime; however, while juvenile criminality has been decreasing since 2019, it has risen among young females.

A total of 1.4 percent of all young people in the 12–17 age group were suspected of a crime in 2023, a drop of 10 percent since 2019.

Show datatable12 to 17-year-old crime suspects (x 1,000)Hide datatable12 to 17-year-old crime suspects (x 1,000)

12 to 17-year-old crime suspects (x 1,000)

Perioden	Boys	Girls
2019	14.78	4.00
2020	13.11	3.05
2021	12.21	3.10
2022*	13.21	4.56
2023*	12.66	4.20
* provisional figures

Shoplifting is the most common crime

In 2023, young people of both sexes were the most likely to be suspected of shoplifting or some other crime involving property. The number of young females suspected of shoplifting fell by 13 percent, following an increase of 70 percent the previous year.

In total, nearly 6 thousand young people aged under 18 were suspected of shoplifting in 2023. For certain juvenile crimes, including burglary, firearms offences and drugs-related crimes, the suspects were overwhelmingly male.

Show datatable12 to 17-year-old suspects by type of crime, 2023*Hide datatable12 to 17-year-old suspects by type of crime, 2023*

12 to 17-year-old suspects by type of crime, 2023*

Categorie	Boys	Girls
Property offences	6630	2820
Including	.	.
Shoplifting	3210	2440
Residential burglary	107	6
	.	.
Vandalism and public disorder	3090	760
Violence	2760	620
Firearms	1010	40
Traffic	810	110
Drugs	770	70
* provisional figures

Relatively high incidence of juvenile crime in large cities

In relative terms, juvenile suspects are more likely to live in large cities. For example, in Amsterdam there were 252 criminal suspects per 10 thousand residents in the 12–17 age group in 2023. In Rotterdam the number was 218, which is also relatively high. Other areas with a relatively high juvenile crime rate are Middelburg, Zaanstad, Leidschendam-Voorburg and Nissewaard. But the municipality of Voorst in Gelderland had the highest number of criminal suspects per 10 thousand residents aged 12–17, at 306.

Hof van Twente and Tubbergen registered the lowest number of juvenile criminal suspects, at 33 per 10 thousand residents. The second lowest were Hellendoorn, Beekdaelen and Duiven, each with 35 criminal suspects per 10 thousand residents aged 12–17.

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Show datatableJuvenile suspects per 10 thousand 12 to 17-year-old residents, 2023*Hide datatableJuvenile suspects per 10 thousand 12 to 17-year-old residents, 2023*

Juvenile suspects per 10 thousand 12 to 17-year-old residents, 2023*

Municipality	Juvenile suspects per 10 thousand 12 to 17-year-old residents
Voorst	306
Amsterdam	252
Middelburg (Z.)	239
Leidschendam-Voorburg	237
Zaanstad	237
Nissewaard	234
Lochem	232
Capelle aan den IJssel	231
Eijsden-Margraten	226
Oost Gelre	224
Rotterdam	218
Leeuwarden	217
Almere	210
Vlissingen	208
Zoetermeer	207
Beverwijk	205
Den Helder	203
Leiden	203
Ooststellingwerf	202
Castricum	201
Ouder-Amstel	200
Heemstede	196
Lelystad	196
Nieuwegein	196
Boekel	195
Eemsdelta	195
Heemskerk	193
Haarlem	192
Bloemendaal	191
Deurne	190
Schiedam	188
Overbetuwe	187
's-Gravenhage (gemeente)	183
Purmerend	181
Brunssum	179
Oegstgeest	179
Heerlen	176
Midden-Groningen	176
Uithoorn	176
Venlo	176
Helmond	175
Baarn	173
Almelo	171
Nijmegen	171
Utrechtse Heuvelrug	171
Dongen	170
Haarlemmermeer	170
Zwijndrecht	170
Voorschoten	169
Zeist	169
Groningen (gemeente)	168
Hattem	167
Boxtel	166
Zandvoort	166
Diemen	165
Alphen aan den Rijn	164
Landgraaf	163
Oldambt	163
Lisse	162
Zwolle	162
Arnhem	161
Gouda	161
Oostzaan	161
Harlingen	160
Amstelveen	159
Borsele	159
Eindhoven	159
Maastricht	159
Ridderkerk	159
Veendam	159
Albrandswaard	158
Smallingerland	157
Velsen	157
Waalwijk	156
Delft	155
Veldhoven	155
Voorne aan Zee	155
Borger-Odoorn	154
Goirle	153
Noord-Beveland	153
Tytsjerksteradiel	153
Rijswijk (ZH.)	152
Vlaardingen	151
Goes	150
Tilburg	150
Kaag en Braassem	149
Kerkrade	147
Dordrecht	146
Waddinxveen	146
Echt-Susteren	145
Maassluis	145
Pijnacker-Nootdorp	145
Someren	145
Waterland	145
Dijk en Waard	144
Stadskanaal	144
Krimpen aan den IJssel	143
Heiloo	142
Hollands Kroon	142
Súdwest-Fryslân	142
Venray	141
Brummen	140
Emmen	140
Landsmeer	140
Tiel	140
Aalsmeer	139
Alkmaar	139
Geldrop-Mierlo	139
Hoorn	139
Simpelveld	139
Stichtse Vecht	139
Hillegom	138
Uitgeest	138
Leiderdorp	136
Woensdrecht	136
Heusden	135
's-Hertogenbosch	135
Medemblik	134
Epe	133
Valkenburg aan de Geul	133
IJsselstein	132
Utrecht (gemeente)	130
Assen	127
Gulpen-Wittem	127
Katwijk	127
Weststellingwerf	127
Lansingerland	126
Urk	126
Zeewolde	126
Oosterhout	125
Sittard-Geleen	125
Voerendaal	125
Heerenveen	124
Hilversum	123
Huizen	122
Noordwijk	122
Vijfheerenlanden	122
Nieuwkoop	121
Enschede	119
Alblasserdam	118
Laren (NH.)	118
Rheden	118
Waadhoeke	118
Deventer	117
Dronten	117
Gooise Meren	117
Harderwijk	117
Geertruidenberg	116
Gilze en Rijen	116
Bunschoten	115
Drechterland	115
Amersfoort	114
Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht	114
Meppel	114
Sluis	114
Zuidplas	114
Schagen	113
Westerwolde	113
Altena	112
Steenbergen	112
Woerden	112
Zutphen	112
Hoeksche Waard	111
West Maas en Waal	111
Gorinchem	110
Vaals	110
Zoeterwoude	110
Drimmelen	109
Hoogeveen	109
Loon op Zand	109
Meierijstad	109
Roosendaal	109
Steenwijkerland	109
Breda	108
Noordenveld	108
Terneuzen	108
Westerveld	108
Barendrecht	107
Bladel	107
Westervoort	107
Doesburg	106
Ede	106
Kapelle	106
Lopik	106
Nijkerk	106
Valkenswaard	106
Hengelo (O.)	104
Texel	104
Ermelo	103
Oude IJsselstreek	103
Teylingen	103
De Ronde Venen	102
Rhenen	102
Houten	101
Bodegraven-Reeuwijk	100
Culemborg	100
Het Hogeland	100
Roermond	100
Stede Broec	100
Apeldoorn	99
Rucphen	99
Land van Cuijk	98
Renkum	98
Beesel	97
Hilvarenbeek	97
Laarbeek	97
Peel en Maas	97
Wassenaar	97
Bergen op Zoom	96
De Bilt	96
Eersel	96
Hardenberg	96
Kampen	96
Krimpenerwaard	96
Midden-Drenthe	96
Wormerland	95
Reimerswaal	94
Barneveld	93
Maashorst	92
Waalre	92
West Betuwe	92
Westerkwartier	92
Halderberge	91
Oldenzaal	91
Wijdemeren	91
Berkelland	90
De Fryske Marren	90
Doetinchem	90
Meerssen	90
Zevenaar	89
Schouwen-Duiveland	88
Wageningen	88
Borne	87
Noordoostpolder	87
Son en Breugel	87
Heerde	86
Goeree-Overflakkee	85
Papendrecht	85
Veenendaal	85
Zwartewaterland	85
De Wolden	84
Weert	84
Aalten	83
Achtkarspelen	83
Neder-Betuwe	83
Zaltbommel	83
Coevorden	82
Maasdriel	82
Oudewater	82
Staphorst	82
Aa en Hunze	80
Etten-Leur	80
Roerdalen	80
Stein (L.)	80
Beek (L.)	79
Buren	79
Horst aan de Maas	79
Molenlanden	79
Wijchen	79
Best	78
Opmeer	78
Raalte	78
Bernheze	77
Vught	77
Berg en Dal	76
Elburg	76
Gennep	76
Reusel-De Mierden	76
Twenterand	76
Westland	76
Pekela	75
Hulst	74
Montfoort	74
Putten	74
Heumen	73
Moerdijk	73
Nuenen, Gerwen en Nederwetten	73
Oss	73
Veere	73
Tynaarlo	72
Cranendonck	71
Lingewaard	71
Olst-Wijhe	71
Bergen (NH.)	70
Midden-Delfland	69
Winterswijk	68
Dantumadiel	67
Oirschot	67
Bergeijk	66
Haaksbergen	66
Leusden	66
Gemert-Bakel	65
Bergen (L.)	64
Leudal	64
Soest	64
Losser	63
Enkhuizen	62
Noardeast-Fryslân	62
Woudenberg	62
Sliedrecht	60
Ommen	58
Blaricum	57
Koggenland	56
Tholen	56
Bronckhorst	55
Oisterwijk	55
Hardinxveld-Giessendam	54
Dalfsen	52
Maasgouw	52
Nunspeet	52
Opsterland	52
Bunnik	51
Nederweert	51
Oldebroek	51
Edam-Volendam	47
Rijssen-Holten	46
Asten	44
Wierden	43
Montferland	42
Sint-Michielsgestel	41
Dinkelland	39
Druten	38
Beuningen	37
Wijk bij Duurstede	37
Beekdaelen	35
Duiven	35
Hellendoorn	35
Hof van Twente	33
Tubbergen	33
Alphen-Chaam	.
Ameland	.
Baarle-Nassau	.
Eemnes	.
Heeze-Leende	.
Mook en Middelaar	.
Renswoude	.
Rozendaal	.
Scherpenzeel	.
Terschelling	.
Vlieland	.
Zundert	.
Schiermonnikoog	.
* provisional figures