In 2024, Berlin saw a startling influx of criminal activity, with over half a million offences recorded—a staggering average of nearly 1,500 incidents daily. This total of 539,049 offences represents a slight increase of 0.4 percent from the previous year, spurred mainly by rises in bodily harm and cellar burglaries, while incidents of shoplifting, knife attacks, and drug offences dipped. These statistics were revealed by Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) and Police Commissioner Barbara Slowik Meisel.
A total of 143,534 suspects were identified, marking a 2.1 percent rise from last year with a notable 18.1 percent of them under 21. Alarmingly, almost 44 percent of the suspects were non-German citizens, and only about half of the crimes were resolved, maintaining a 45.5 percent clearance rate as seen in 2023. Additionally, 113,473 individuals reported being victims of crimes in Berlin, reflecting a 6.4 percent increase.
The data reveals a troubling rise in serious crimes, with murder and manslaughter offences up to 53 in 2024—19 more than in 2023. A highly-publicised case involved ten murders allegedly committed by a palliative care doctor. Including attempted homicides, the total reaches 117 incidents, soaring by 52 percent from last year. Knife attacks slightly decreased by 2 percent, totalling 3,412—a figure deemed unacceptably high by officials.
Violent domestic offences surged by 2.3 percent, with 19,213 reported— the highest in a decade, predominantly affecting women. Tragically, 66 women suffered severe injuries, with 9 fatalities in this context. Attacks on police officers also rose, with 10,584 incidents recorded, a 10.2 percent increase from 2023, while violence against emergency responders fell, likely due to enhanced protective measures.
In terms of drug-related crimes, there was a significant decline of 17.5 percent, down to 14,446 offences. Police Commissioner Slowik Meisel claimed that this drop was linked to the partial legalisation of cannabis, although concerns about a thriving black market persist. The year reported the highest drug-related deaths since the dawn of the century, predominantly linked to cocaine, heroin, and polysubstance use.
Politically motivated crimes surged dramatically, reaching 8,309 cases— a 29.3 percent rise from the previous year, with violence spiking by 76.4 percent. A considerable portion of the upsurge stemmed from anti-Semitic attacks, which doubled amidst the ongoing Middle East conflict. Recorded offences related to this conflict numbered 3,137, which is a staggering increase of over 250 percent. Furthermore, right-wing politically motivated crimes rose by 19.9 percent, while left-wing offences saw a significant decline.
In 2024, Berlin recorded over 539,000 criminal offences, marking a 0.4% increase from the previous year. Violence proves especially concerning, with rises in murder, domestic violence, and politically motivated crimes, including anti-Semitic attacks. Notably, drug-related crimes dropped significantly, attributed to the partial legalisation of cannabis, yet drug-related deaths reached alarming heights.
The crime statistics for Berlin in 2024 present a complex portrait, revealing increases in various criminal activities while also indicating declines in specific areas such as shoplifting and drug-related offences. The rise in serious crimes, particularly violent offences and politically motivated incidents, underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement. Furthermore, the significant involvement of younger and non-German suspects raises deep-rooted societal questions worth examining.
Original Source: www.berlin.de
