Kampen's integrated approach reduces serious incidents in families and neighbourhoods
Residents of Kampen are experiencing safer neighbourhoods and families as a new integrated approach, AVE, helps tackle issues like domestic violence and nuisance early. The method, praised by local professionals, has already handled 350 cases in 2025, preventing escalations and improving collaboration among support services.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Approach Name | AVE (Approach to Prevent Escalation) |
| Implementation Year | 2024 |
| Evaluation Year | 2025 |
| Cases Handled (2025) | 350 (AVE level 2), 60 (AVE level 3) |
| Serious Incidents (2025) | 0 |
| Key Partners | Municipality, police, mental healthcare (GGZ), social work, GGD, housing corporations, Safe Home |
| Lead Organization | Municipality of Kampen |
| Next Steps (2026) | Continuation of AVE, investment in coordination and training |
| Location | Kampen, Overijssel |
The municipality of Kampen plays a coordinating role in the AVE methodology, ensuring that various social partners and professionals collaborate effectively to address and prevent escalating issues. This approach aligns with the municipality's responsibility to safeguard public safety and well-being within its jurisdiction.
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Fewer serious incidents due to integrated approach
The municipality of Kampen has seen fewer serious incidents in families and neighbourhoods. The chosen approach therefore appears to contribute to earlier recognition and resolution of issues before they escalate. This approach is called the AVE methodology: Approach to Prevent Escalation. The municipality has been working with this approach since 2024 and presented the evaluation results to the municipal council. The approach will be continued and strengthened in 2026.
About the approach
The AVE helps residents and professionals to identify problems earlier and arrange help more quickly. This prevents a situation from escalating into domestic violence, major nuisance or other unsafe situations. Within the AVE, the municipality, police, mental healthcare (GGZ), social work, GGD (Municipal Health Service), housing corporations and Safe Home (Veilig Thuis) work closely together. The approach also provides guidance in the event of possible escalation. The AVE consists of four levels, within which organisations have agreed on their role and the moment at which they take on that role.
Highlighted text: Alderman Bernard van den Belt: “Sometimes problems pile up. Think of financial worries, family disputes, mental health issues or nuisance in the neighbourhood. If it goes on for too long, a situation can get out of hand. We want to prevent that. It also provides clarity for residents. They have one point of contact, even if multiple organisations are involved.”
Municipal coordination role
While professionals and social partners each have their own role, the municipality takes the lead. Case managers work closely with the individuals involved and keep track of what they need. They ensure there is one plan and one point of contact. Process managers ensure that all involved organisations work well together.
In practice, the collaboration within this approach is seen as an improvement.
Highlighted text: Neighbourhood police officer Jolanda van ’t Veen: “This approach works preventively. We find each other quickly and use each other’s expertise at an early stage. That prevents problems from getting worse.”
Results and follow-up
In 2025, a total of 350 cases were handled under municipal supervision (AVE level 2). Sixty cases required an integrated approach involving multiple organisations and therefore fell under AVE level 3. None of the individuals or families ultimately became involved in serious incidents. The board of mayor and aldermen will continue the AVE methodology in 2026 and will invest in, among other things, coordination capacity and facilitating training and intervision.