The number of teenagers referred to a special social work unit designed to nip potential problems in the bud rose by over 1,000 to 17,600 last year.

Most are referred to the unit by the police after becoming involved in petty theft, skipping school and ‘rowdy behaviour’, Trouw reported on Tuesday.

The number of referrals has been falling for years; from over 23,000 in 2007 to 16,500 lin 2011. The rise last year is largely due to increased attention for truants, the organisation said.

Bureau Halt was set up in 1981 in Rotterdam to deal with teenagers who are at risk of getting into serious trouble and has since gone nationwide.