Berlin's BVG cuts crime but faces rising sexual offences in 2025
Berlin (dpa/bb) – To enhance safety for passengers and staff, Berlin's public transport operator BVG is placing greater emphasis on advanced video surveillance. Technology tested in a pilot project at Kottbusser Tor station is now being rolled out at 13 additional stations, the company announced. Seven more are set to follow in the second half of the year.
AI-Powered Video Detection
The cameras automatically detect unauthorized individuals in non-public areas of stations—such as tunnels and tracks—and alert the security control center. This system helps better protect against vandalism in these restricted zones.
BVG is currently evaluating whether this AI-assisted video detection could also be deployed in public areas. Another pilot project is planned at Kottbusser Tor. If implemented, security personnel could respond more quickly to critical situations, such as people on the tracks, smoke or fire incidents, or unattended luggage. Discussions with Berlin's Data Protection Commissioner are underway.
€105 Million Invested in Security Measures
Last year, BVG invested around €105 million in security upgrades, including joint cleaning and security patrols on select subway lines and an overall increase in security staff. Approximately 250 security personnel are now on duty around the clock, the company stated. Daily operational hours have risen to 2,275, up from about 1,900 the previous year.
BVG reported an overall improvement in safety in 2025, with crimes on Berlin's buses and trains dropping by 16% to roughly 12,560 incidents. This included around 4,000 violent offenses, a decrease of 120 compared to the prior year.
Attacks against BVG employees also declined. The company recorded nearly 270 such cases last year, down by about 60 from 2024. While incidents of insults and threats fell, assaults on staff increased.
Record High in Sexual Offenses
Meanwhile, sexual offenses against passengers reached their highest level since 2015, with 314 reported cases. The number of coercive incidents has nearly doubled over the past decade, totaling 644 in 2025. BVG noted that this reflects a broader societal trend, though the exact causes remain unclear.
"The high number of assaults against women—whether in public transport, domestic violence, or elsewhere—is unacceptably high," said Berlin's Governing Mayor, Kai Wegner (CDU). "We must do everything possible to ensure women feel safer in public spaces, at home, and everywhere else."
BVG CEO Henrik Falk stressed that the company cannot be complacent despite last year's figures. "Every attack is one too many, and every crime is one too many." He acknowledged that in a global metropolis, such incidents will remain a persistent challenge. BVG recorded approximately 1.1 billion passenger trips in 2025.
