BERLIN, Germany – Germany is facing a concerning increase in sexual violence and youth-related crimes, according to the latest crime statistics for 2024. The number of reported rape and sexual assault cases rose by 9.3% compared to the previous year, totaling 13,320 incidents. This surge has prompted Interior Minister Nancy Faeser to describe the situation as "very worrying" during a presentation of the country's crime data in Berlin.
The statistics reveal that 6,892 of the suspects in these cases were German citizens, while 4,437 were non-German, highlighting a significant proportion of foreign suspects involved in sexual violence. The rise in violent crimes overall reached its highest level since 2007, with more than 217,000 incidents reported nationwide.
Additionally, there has been a notable increase in violent acts committed by young people, including children. The number of child suspects in violent crimes increased by 11.3%, and among juveniles by 3.8%. Authorities attribute this trend partly to psychological stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Germany is also grappling with a broader societal issue of violence against women. In 2023, there were 180,715 reported cases of domestic violence against women, marking a 5.6% increase from the previous year. The government has recently passed a historic law aimed at combating domestic violence, which includes provisions for expanded support services and offender programs, although full implementation is not expected until 2032.
The situation has sparked calls for tougher measures to protect women and address the root causes of rising violence. Faeser emphasized the need for stronger protection systems and greater use of electronic monitoring to prevent perpetrators from approaching threatened individuals unnoticed. The government has also increased deportations of foreign offenders, with a 55% rise over the past two years.
As Germany navigates these challenges, it remains a complex task to balance public safety with social integration and justice, particularly in the context of rising youth and foreigner-related crimes. The ongoing debate highlights the need for comprehensive strategies to address both the symptoms and underlying causes of violence in German society.