Street slang — police & crime

This theme groups Dutch street-slang terms relating to the police, betrayal, fraud and criminal acts. It covers words for the police (ibahesj, sco2), for informers (snitch) and for criminal acts (ov'tje zetten — committing a robbery, schetsen — conning someone). These terms mark a world in which law enforcement, distrust and offences play a role; clustering of them has signal value for criminal involvement.

A reference to the police or to an informer is not in itself evidence of involvement. Look for patterns: ov'tje zetten (robbery) or schetsen (conning) together with money, drugs or weapons language, with secrecy, or with fear of talking (snitch rhetoric that enforces silence). Police references used to coordinate warnings or lookouts strengthen the picture of possible criminal activity.

• Weigh terms against behaviour, money, contacts and online posts; do not judge on a single word.
• Snitch pressure can keep young people from seeking help — be alert to silence out of fear.
• If you suspect involvement in robberies or fraud: flag it and discuss it in the care and safety consultation; escalate in the case of concrete offences.
• Hold the conversation in a safe, non-judgemental way; protect the young person's position.

These meanings are never fixed. Street slang differs per young person, friendship group, region, platform and context. A term is never evidence in itself, but it can be a signal when it fits a broader pattern of language use, behaviour, posts, contacts and offline signals. Use this overview as a tool for identifying signals, not as an instrument of proof.

• straattaal_betekenissen.docx (table "Straattaal - betekenis", word/meaning)