Amsterdam  - Youths from Moroccan families that are well integrated in Dutch society tend to be more criminal than their Moroccan peers from less integrated, low-income families, according to a study released Tuesday.

The University of Utrecht study compared 300 Dutch and Moroccan- Dutch inmates aged 12-18 with 500 peers who did not have a police record.

Social scientists Gonneke Stevens and Violaine Veen found that teenage boys from Moroccan-Dutch families that appeared to be more integrated and also had higher incomes came in contact with police more often than their peers from poorer families that lived more isolated from society.

By contrast, Dutch teenage criminals are traditionally raised in low-income families.

"Moroccans who want to participate in Dutch society are possibly more sensitive to life in a society that does not have a positive attitude towards their ethnic group," Stevens explained.

"This may result in criminal behaviour."

The researchers also found that 80 per cent of ethnic Moroccan teenagers who received a jail sentence, are convicted of money- related crimes that may involve the use of violence.

Around 45 per cent of young Dutch criminals is jailed for money- related crimes, with the remainder of convictions being for violence, arson or sexual offences. (dpa)