"Those guys are rats, but the loyalty is to the family

They were born between 1992 and 1999. Nine boys watching from small photos printed on the wall of the eleven officers that night patrol in Veldhuizen. For convenience, group chief Danny Nykamp speaks during his briefing of the 'top ten'. 

These guys disrupted last week the Ede Veldhuizen district. Around them circling around forty hangers, often a few years younger. Lying in bed tonight, not the top ten. These are hardened criminals.

Nine o'clock. We drive in Veldhuizen, in a red Volkswagen. Pim van den Brink (33) behind the wheel, Danny Nykamp (40) drives from the passenger seat over the radio officers in the district. Those on bicycles, in cars, on the bike or in civilian clothes. The latter run tonight at strategic points around, some 'digging in', they hide in the green.

It is quiet. Like the past few nights. Due to the ban on assembly and the emergency ordinance says Nykamp. But the risk remains on vehicle fires. In Veldhuizen, with its stealth-by-creep doorwoonerfjes and alleys, beat you out of nothing, and you're gone so again.

At half past ten see the two cops' doelgroep' boys. Which may not in the district. Audience means as much as criminal, or rising star in the crime. The hard core that at least 80 per cent are young people of Moroccan descent. Pim runs with squealing tires going.

The boys are surrounded by agents, in addition to the Islamic school at the Golden Stein.They were on their way to an aunt, they say. The police let them go, if they go home now."You have to play the game a little bit," said team principal Peter van den Berg, who stands there. They tackle hard, but they do not push at all. Then maybe they do really crazy things.Radicalizing for example. "You must clearly state your boundaries. Sometimes I think that's what's missing at home."

Danny recently held a boy of sixteen at half past three at night. His brother of twelve had to go home and tell their parents. "Why a twelve year old boy hangs in the middle of the night around with criminals?" Parents sometimes think that police and teachers should do part of the education for them, said Pim. But as parents of criminal Moroccans hear what their sons, they are shocked. Danny: "Those guys are rats, but family loyalty is great who want to bring them out into disrepute.."

By Editorial Volkskrant: Niels Mark and Wilfred van de Poll Photo: Koen Verheijde