Crime in Germany falls to lowest level in 30 years
The number of crimes reported to the German police force has fallen for the fifth year in a row.
According to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), around 5.05 million criminal offences were reported to the authorities last year, representing the lowest number since 1992.
From 1993 to 2009 and from 2014 to 2016, more than six million crimes were reported in Germany on an annual basis. Crime levels fell by around five percent between 2020 and 2021, while the number of crimes solved by the police increased to around 58 percent of cases.
Around 1,890,000 suspects were identified - two-thirds of whom were male.
According to the BKA, the lower crime rates are a knock-on effect of the Covid pandemic and its ensuing restrictions on public life.
Due to measures such as lockdowns, curfews and closures of public venues, would-be criminals had much less opportunity to commit crime in 2021.
The number of registered thefts fell by about 11.8 percent compared to the previous year, and assaults also decreased by about ten percent.
On the other hand, the Covid restrictions led to a shift of offences to the internet or the home.
In the area of cybercrime, almost 16,000 more cases were counted in 2021 than in 2020 - an increase of 12.1 percent.
READ ALSO: Germany searches 100 suspects over political hate speech
Illegal distribution of pornographic content increased by 87.8 per cent, while the distribution of child pornography more than doubled and child abuse cases rose by six percent.
"The crime statistics show a positive development in most areas," said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. "The consistent increase in the rate of crimes solved shows that the strengthening of the police is paying off.
"However, the appalling extent of sexualised violence against children is for me a clear mandate to act with all consistency. For me, combating the sexual abuse of children and the dissemination of heinous abuse photos and videos via the internet is a top priority."
To tackle this growing issue, Faeser said the Interior Ministry would strengthen the role of the Federal Criminal Police Office and improve data analysis and AI capabilities for investigating crimes against children.
"My goal is clear: no perpetrator should feel safe," she said.
Vocabulary
crime - (die) Straftat
restrictions - (die) Einschränkungen
to fall / decrease - sinken
appalling - entsetzlich
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According to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), around 5.05 million criminal offences were reported to the authorities last year, representing the lowest number since 1992.
From 1993 to 2009 and from 2014 to 2016, more than six million crimes were reported in Germany on an annual basis. Crime levels fell by around five percent between 2020 and 2021, while the number of crimes solved by the police increased to around 58 percent of cases.
Around 1,890,000 suspects were identified - two-thirds of whom were male.
According to the BKA, the lower crime rates are a knock-on effect of the Covid pandemic and its ensuing restrictions on public life.
Due to measures such as lockdowns, curfews and closures of public venues, would-be criminals had much less opportunity to commit crime in 2021.
The number of registered thefts fell by about 11.8 percent compared to the previous year, and assaults also decreased by about ten percent.
On the other hand, the Covid restrictions led to a shift of offences to the internet or the home.
In the area of cybercrime, almost 16,000 more cases were counted in 2021 than in 2020 - an increase of 12.1 percent.
READ ALSO: Germany searches 100 suspects over political hate speech
Illegal distribution of pornographic content increased by 87.8 per cent, while the distribution of child pornography more than doubled and child abuse cases rose by six percent.
"The crime statistics show a positive development in most areas," said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. "The consistent increase in the rate of crimes solved shows that the strengthening of the police is paying off.
"However, the appalling extent of sexualised violence against children is for me a clear mandate to act with all consistency. For me, combating the sexual abuse of children and the dissemination of heinous abuse photos and videos via the internet is a top priority."
To tackle this growing issue, Faeser said the Interior Ministry would strengthen the role of the Federal Criminal Police Office and improve data analysis and AI capabilities for investigating crimes against children.
"My goal is clear: no perpetrator should feel safe," she said.
Vocabulary
crime - (die) Straftat
restrictions - (die) Einschränkungen
to fall / decrease - sinken
appalling - entsetzlich
We’re aiming to help our readers improve their German by translating vocabulary from some of our news stories. Did you find this article useful? Let us know.
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