Escalating Acts of Violence Against Law Enforcement Officers Reach Unprecedented Levels

In a press conference held in Stuttgart, Thomas Strobl, the Interior Minister of Baden-Württemberg, presented the Police Criminal Statistics (PKS) and the Landesicherheitsbericht. The conference was held against the backdrop of rising crime rates, particularly in the areas of cybercrime, attacks on police officers, and politically and religiously motivated crimes.

The financial damage due to cybercrime increased by 6.7 percent in 2024, amounting to approximately 17.7 million euros. The number of cybercrime cases also saw a significant jump, rising by 10.8 percent to around 15,000 cases. Despite this surge, the police were able to clear up about two-thirds of these cases.

The number of attacks on police officers also rose, with a 7.2 percent increase to around 6400 offenses in 2024. In response, Minister Strobl called upon the federal legislature to toughen penalties for such attacks, suggesting a minimum sentence of six months and a one-year prison term in particularly severe cases.

The minister expressed concern about the increase in politically and religiously motivated crimes, stating they pose a significant threat potential. After a temporary decrease in 2023, the number of such crimes increased by 34.4 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 6526 cases.

Minister Strobl also criticized the federal cannabis law, particularly regarding the protection of children and youth. However, the article does not provide information about the specific demands he made regarding this issue.

The minister emphasized the importance of data retention, stating it is urgently needed for preventing serious and heinous crimes, particularly in the areas of terrorism and child abuse. Yet, the article does not provide details about the nature of the Landesicherheitsbericht or the specific demands Strobl made regarding data retention.

Minister Strobl also highlighted the vulnerability that comes with digitization, particularly with regard to critical infrastructure. He noted that as we become more digital, we also become more vulnerable. The knife attack on the Mannheim market square, which resulted in several injuries and the death of police officer Rouven Laur, serves as a stark reminder and a call to action.

The Staatsanzeiger subscription is required to subscribe to topics and save articles related to these issues. The minister expressed hope that the SPD would address these concerns during coalition negotiations.

In conclusion, the press conference by Thomas Strobl underscored the increasing challenges posed by cybercrime, attacks on police officers, and politically and religiously motivated crimes. The minister called for stricter penalties, data retention, and a reevaluation of the federal cannabis law to better protect children and youth.