Criminal activity persistently lessens across Lower Saxony - Criminal activity linked to clans persists in a downward trend across Lower Saxony
In the state of Lower Saxony, the term "clan crime" has become a subject of intense debate. The controversy centres around the implications of stereotyping and stigmatization of families or ethnic groups, particularly those with migrant backgrounds.
Critics argue that the term unfairly associates certain communities with criminality, potentially fostering discrimination and social division. They claim that it lumps entire families or ethnic groups together based on origin or background rather than individual behaviour, risking collective blame and fueling prejudices, especially against migrant minorities. This can hinder social integration and fuel xenophobia.
On the other hand, supporters of the term argue that it helps to identify and combat organized crime attributed to tightly-knit, extended family groups operating with hierarchical and clan-like structures. They believe it aids authorities in describing complex networks of crime within these families that operate across generations and borders, often involving drug trafficking, extortion, and other organized offenses.
The debate has sparked political and social debates about whether the use of the term criminalizes cultural or family bonds and how policing should be balanced against protecting minority rights. It also raises questions about the role of ethnicity or descent in labeling crimes versus focusing on individual criminal acts.
Key figures from the 2024 data show that out of the 2,903 suspects recorded in relation to clan crime, approximately 80% were male. The majority of registered cases involved violent crimes and offenses against personal freedom. The number of shoplifting incidents under aggravating circumstances increased significantly by about a quarter to 303 cases.
Interestingly, Lower Saxony is one of only three states that produce a situation report on so-called "clan crime", potentially artificially inflating the phenomenon. However, the share of criminal offenses classified as "clan crime" in all police-registered crimes last year was less than one percent.
Authorities seized almost five million euros in 2024, an increase of almost three million euros compared to the previous year. Bodily harm accounts for the majority of violent crimes in these cases, with 583 cases.
Despite the controversy, ministers Daniela Behrens and Kathrin Wahlmann (both SPD) are confirmed in their "holistic zero-tolerance strategy" against clan crime. Evrim Camuz, the Green Party's spokesperson on legal policy in the state parliament, states that stigmatizing catch-all terms do not help in combating crime.
Kevin Komolka, chairman of the Police Union (GdP) in the state, suggests that seized money could benefit the police in the future. The Ministry of the Interior stated that combating clan structures remains a nationwide focus due to the objective dangers they pose and their impact on citizens' perceived safety.
While the term "clan crime" is controversial due to stigmatization and discrimination of people with a migration background based on family ties and origin, it remains a focus for police and justice in Lower Saxony. Some advocate focusing on criminal behaviour regardless of ethnic or familial background, emphasizing socio-economic causes, prevention, integration measures, and community policing to avoid reinforcing stereotypes. The number of cases attributed to so-called clan crime in Lower Saxony decreased last year to 3,145.
- The debate over the term "clan crime" in Lower Saxony extends beyond law enforcement to encompass general-news politics, as ministers and policymakers weigh the potential for stigmatization against the need for effective crime-and-justice strategies.
- As the number of cases attributed to "clan crime" in Lower Saxony decreased last year, some community leaders advocate for a shift in focus, emphasizing employment policies and community policing as means to prevent crime, rather than relying on the controversial term.
