An annual report published by Statistics Netherlands and the Ministry of Security and Justice has included statistics on cybercrime for the first time, revealing that one in eight people have been affected by it in 2012.
Also known as computer crime, cybercrime includes things such as hacking, online bullying or fraud connected with online selling. Overall, 12 percent of people 15 years and up were affected by this, with over half having had their computer, smart phone, e-mail account or website hacked.
This type of crime is more commonly encountered by younger people who are relatively more active on the Internet. Almost one in five people between the ages of 15 and 25 years old had been the victim of cybercrime in the past year.
Traditional crime is still more commonly experienced by Dutch residents with one in five people affected by burglary, violence or theft. Though this remains at about the same level as 2011, a downward trend is noticeable.
Other statistics of note from the report include:
› 37 percent of Dutch people said they sometimes did not feel safe in 2012.
› Almost 60 percent of people who had contact with the police during the year said they were satisfied with the experience.
› Victims of crime were slightly higher than average in the urban areas of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague.