Dutch cops to “confiscate” expensive-looking clothes from youths

I’m a fairly unkempt-looking dude by choice, with unruly hair shoved under a hat and a wardrobe that’s only slightly changed in the last decade, yet I also have an affinity for fine wrist-wear. I’ve never been concerned about this combination before, but it does sound like I’ll need to keep it in mind if I ever visit the Dutch city of Rotterdam, lest I get stopped and robbed by police who think I don’t look rich enough to justify what I’m wearing.

Police in the Dutch city of Rotterdam have launched a new pilot programme which will see them confiscating expensive clothing and jewellery from young people if they look too poor to own them.

Officers say the scheme will see them target younger men in designer clothes they seem unlikely to be able to afford legally – if it is not clear how the person paid for it, it will be confiscated.

The idea is to deter criminality by sending a signal that the men will not be able to hang onto their ill-gotten gains.

Rotterdam police chief Frank Paauw told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf: “They are often young guests who consider themselves untouchable. We're going to undress them on the street.

“We regularly take a Rolex from a suspect. Clothes rarely. And that is especially a status symbol for young people. Some young people now walk with jackets of €1800. They do not have any income, so the question is how they get there.”

Let’s just add this to the long, sad list of things I’m baffled that people think are a good idea. Surely, nothing bad can come from empowering police to summarily rip the clothes off people’s backs if those people can’t instantly produce proof of purchase. Maybe Dutch clothing designers should start a trend of adding special pockets for wearers to keep their receipts in for easy access. Also note how this specifically targets younger men – as if older men and women didn’t also commit the offense of wearing clothes that may look too expensive in officers’ (assuredly reasonable and well-trained) view.

You couldn’t even blink before such a practice would be outlawed in the United States, and hopefully most countries besides. I don’t know what laws are in play, but unless or until a Dutch court rules on the matter, it’s best to stick to looking your drab best in the streets of Rotterdam.

(via @charlescwcooke; retweet by @Popehat)

Edit (01/24/18 @ 5:49 AM ET): Typo fix.