SAFE 'N SOUND: Lower Saxony Quieter Than Popular Belief Suggests
A Common Misconception: Lower Saxony's Safety Level Surpasses Popular Belief - Region of Lower Saxony considered less dangerous than commonly perceived by public.
Hey there!
Lower Saxony's Interior Minister, Daniela Behrens, has some eye-opening insights about the state's safety. Despite citizen concerns about escalating crimes, the reality, according to Behrens, paints a quite different picture.
"Lower Saxony's a safe state," Behrens declared, presenting the crime statistics for 2024. Total crime cases dropped significantly, with 529,264 incidents recorded, a decline of around 24,000 from the previous year.
However, while there was a drop in crime, there was an increase in violent crimes. Interestingly, roughly half of this decrease is attributed to the decriminalization of cannabis in 2024.
Approximately 222,000 individuals were identified as suspects—over 5,400 fewer compared to the previous year. Two-thirds of these suspects hailed from Germany.
However, Behrens, a member of the SPD, emphasized that many citizens underestimate the true state of crime. She noted that while there's been a long-term decrease in the crime rate in Lower Saxony since the 1990s, across various categories of crime, some citizens still feel that the situation is worsening.
State Police President Axel Brockmann, however, expressed a more modest outlook on the ongoing crime trend, stating that it remains uncertain if the positive decrease in overall crime rates will persist in the approaching years.
Crime on the Rise—Knife Attacks Persist
The 2024 crime statistics reveal an increase in offenses against life by 47 cases, resulting in 400 instances in total. Despite this rise, it's not a new record—in 2016, over 500 cases were reported. There were also more offenses against personal freedom (up 2,817 to 97,869) and bodily injuries (up 853 to 43,656).
Recent years have shown an alarming increase in knife attacks, but this trend didn't continue in 2024: the number of cases still remained over 3,000, with nearly half of them being threats. Regrettably, there were 18 intentional murders reported, compared to 10 in the previous year, with nearly all these cases falling under domestic violence.
Behrens acknowledged the fear of increases in violent crimes but noted that the risk of becoming a victim is, in reality, quite low. She specifically mentioned locations like bus stops, main railway stations, and streets as relatively safe places compared to the long-term perspectives. Moreover, most acts of violence can be solved by the police.
Rising Domestic Violence Concerns
Behrens expressed regret about the increase in domestic violence, stating that a woman's home is the most dangerous place. The number of cases increased significantly by 2,670 to 32,545. To protect victims of domestic violence and punish perpetrators, the state is considering introducing ankle monitors for domestic violence offenders and body cameras in apartments.
Police's Mixed Feelings About Cannabis Legalization
Over 12,000 fewer cannabis-related cases were registered in 2024, although other drug cases also decreased. State Police President Brockmann links this decline to the partial legalization of cannabis, making investigations more challenging.
The decrease in cannabis offenses while homegrowing and cultivation associations have been legalized provides limited relief to the police, as they believe that the increased demand due to legalization can't be exclusively met by these small-scale operations. They expect lawful market supply to remain limited, forcing buyers to continue turning to the black market.
Trade Union and Opposition Reactions
The Police Trade Union (GdP) views the overall decrease in crime and the slight increase in the clearance rate to 63% as evidence of good police work but acknowledges that workload remains high. CDU interior politician André Bock criticized the drug policy, stating that manipulated case numbers and falsified statistics are its result. He also highlighted the high percentage of foreign suspects, at 33%. "Therefore, alongside the security turnaround, a migration turnaround is urgently needed," said Bock.
AfD MP Stephan Bothe attributed the high number of stabbing incidents to the "meaninglessness" of knife ban zones and saw the knife as a symbol of "imported migrant violence." The police confirmed that 42% of suspects in knife attacks did not possess a German passport.
- In response to the decriminalization of cannabis in Saxony, vocational training programs could be implemented to provide opportunities for individuals previously involved in the cannabis market, potentially reducing the appeal of black-market activities and contributing to fewer instances of insecurity.
- Despite the decline in overall crime cases in Lower Saxony, the increasing concern about violence, such as knife attacks and domestic violence, reflects the need for additional community policy measures to address these specific areas, ensuring a safer and more secure living environment for all citizens.
- While the SPD politician, Daniela Behrens, strongly advocates for combating the widespread misconception about the state of crime in Lower Saxony, opposition politicians like CDU's André Bock and AfD's Stephan Bothe continue to raise concerns about the relation between migration and crime, suggesting that a migration turnaround might be required to ensure the safety of the community.
