In view of the increasing number of crimes in Germany and the noticeably high proportion of foreign suspects of 41 percent, the Union is calling for stricter measures against illegal migration and more support for the police and judiciary.
“The high number of crimes is an alarm signal that the issue of internal security should not be neglected,” said the Thuringian CDU parliamentary group leader Mario Voigt to the Tagesspiegel. “It is the central task of the state to ensure the freedom and security of its citizens. This promise must always have top priority,” demanded the Thuringian CDU top candidate for the state elections.
Asylum cap and more money for the police
The domestic policy spokesman for the Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Alexander Throm, made it clear in the Tagesspiegel what support for security and judicial authorities could look like. He demanded: more material resources for the Federal Criminal Police Office, a limit on immigration, increased controls, fewer social benefits for refugees and a restriction on the right of residence.
“The very negative development shows how tense the integration conditions are in terms of accommodation, language and work. That’s why we urgently need one Migration cap for refugees,” said Saxony’s Interior Minister Armin Schuster (CDU) to the Tagesspiegel.
Crime statistics figures for 2023 published in advance at the weekend show one significant increase in crimes by 5.5 percent to 5.94 million crimes. That’s more than ever since 2016. The increase in suspects is particularly noticeable. The proportion of foreigners among the suspects has increased significantly, by 17.8 percent.
Population figures from the Federal Statistical Office are used to classify the situation: 84.6 million people live in Germany (as of September 2023), 12.7 million of whom do not have a German passport. The proportion of foreigners in the total population is therefore 15 percent. In 2023, 2.2 million were suspected of a crime, of which 923,000 were non-Germans (41 percent). However, immigration to Germany has also risen sharply in the past two years.
5.94
Millions of crimes were recorded by the police last year.
Certain crimes, such as violations of the Residence Act or the Asylum Procedure Act, are almost exclusively committed by foreigners due to their different legal status.
Such Violations of immigration law such as illegal entry, illegal stay in Germany, i.e. if someone does not leave the country after their visa has expired, or if someone does paid work without a work permit while the asylum procedure has not yet been completed, are also included in the statistics for foreign suspects. The offenses of “unauthorized entry” (93,158 cases, up 40.4 percent) and “unauthorized stay” (187,059, up 28.6 percent) increased sharply.
More prevention and education should help
© Imago/Bernd Elmenthaler
There were different reactions from the parties in the traffic light coalition. FDP deputy leader Wolfgang Kubicki called the crime statistics “extremely alarming”. One must maintain control over immigration. “Anyone who thinks that migration will not cause any problems for local society is actually making life in the Federal Republic more dangerous,” Kubicki told the Tagesspiegel.
Isolation and loneliness can make children and young people more vulnerable to extremist attitudes, which are associated with a higher level of violence.
Domestic politician Lamya Kaddor (Greens) is looking for causes for the high number of crimes committed by minors.
The SPD and the Greens called for prevention and educational campaigns and stated that they wanted to research the causes. The domestic politician Sebastian Hartmann (SPD) called for a new strategy: “In conjunction with the countries primarily responsible, we need a strategy against the increasing acts of violence.” According to the SPD politician, this includes a combination of “prevention and educational campaigns” as well as “consistent Prosecution”.
Green MP Lamya Kaddor described the high number of criminal cases last year as “worrying”. “In my view, this is also a mandate for politicians to particularly research the causes,” said the domestic politician.
Kaddor cited the isolation of children during the corona pandemic as possible reasons for the increased crime, because the number of crimes among minors has also increased. “The crime rate is higher among socio-economically weak groups, which very often include foreigners,” said the Green politician, citing another possible cause.
In addition, Germany is becoming more violent: with 214,099 cases (plus 8.6 percent), violent acts have reached their highest level in 15 years. A particularly large number of cases of “dangerous and serious bodily harm” were reported, an increase of 6.8 percent to 154,541 cases. “Intentional simple bodily harm” also increased to 429,157 cases (plus 7.4 percent). Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) wants to present the complete crime statistics on Tuesday.