Eberhard van der Laan, Amsterdam’s Labour mayor, is planning ‘Scum villages’ where anti-social neighbours will be booted from the city and rehoused in caravans or containers with “minimal services” under constant police and supervision.
There are already several small-scale trial projects in the Netherlands, including in Amsterdam, where 10 shipping container homes have been set aside for persistent offenders, living under 24-hour supervision from social workers and police.
Under the new policy, from January next year, victims will no longer have to move to escape their tormentors, who will be moved to the new units.
There has been some negative responses to the idea. The Dutch Parool newspaper reported that the idea was not new. In the 19th century, troublemakers were moved “to special villages in Drenthe and Overijssel outside Amsterdam. The villages were rarely successful, becoming sink estates for the lawless.” The difference of course, is that these new ‘caravan parks’ will not be permamnent residences and the inmates? guests? will be under constant supervision.
[Source: The Telegraph]
