Council officials who work with Dutch Antillean youth are not allowed to enter information in a new databank for juvenile delinquents called the 'reference index'.

Youth and Family Minister André Rouvoet says the measure is to ensure that ethnic backgrounds, Antillean or otherwise, are not registered. The Christian Union minister considers registration of ethnic backgrounds a form of discrimination. Council officials with Antillean clients can, however, pass on information to other council officials and social workers who do have access to the databank.

The reference index is for all young delinquents in the Netherlands. An earlier plan called for a database specifically for youth with an Antillean background. That plan was widely criticised by politicians and social welfare organisations opposing ethnic registration. The reference index is meant to give early indicators of criminal behaviour amongst youth.  If necessary, counselling for problems such as truancy or drug abuse will be enforced.

photo by roel1943/flickr