On Wednesday, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser expressed concern over a significant surge in sexual violence while presenting Germany’s most recent crime statistics in Berlin. The data gathered for 2024 also highlighted a notable increase in violent actions committed by young individuals, including those considered children.
The report stated that even though the overall number of registered crimes decreased by 1.7% to nearly 6 million cases compared to 2023, violent crime saw a 1.5% rise. With over 217,000 violent crimes nationwide, this marked the highest level since 2007.
A total of 13,320 instances of rape and sexual assault were recorded in 2024, a 9.3% increase from the previous year. Out of the 11,329 suspects identified, 6,892 were German citizens, and slightly over a third, 4,437, were non-German suspects.
Faeser, a center-left Social Democrat politician, argued that the anticipated conservative-led government must prioritize the protection of women, advocating for more prosecutions and the increased use of electronic monitoring. She noted that more than a third of the suspects in such cases were not German citizens, highlighting the need for consistent prosecution and deportations.
Faeser emphasized that the legal system must take tough action against violent offenders and mentioned Germany’s introduction of a ban on knives at public events. Police chief Münch acknowledged the trend of increasing violent crime, especially among children and adolescents, suggesting psychological stress from the coronavirus measures as a possible reason.
Münch also pointed out the higher proportion of foreigners among suspects in violent crimes and stressed the importance of effective migration management. Despite a drop in overall crime figures, attributed partly to the partial legalization of cannabis, Münch expressed concern over the evolving narcotics market and increasing drug-related deaths.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-sees-rise-in-sexual-violence-and-youth-offenses/a-72116932?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
