Crime rates in Germany fall for fifth year in a row

The number of crimes reported to the German police declined for the fifth year in a row in 2021, according to new figures released by the Federal Interior Ministry. However, while crimes like theft and burglaries are on a clear downward trend, other types of criminality are becoming more prevalent. 

Crime in Germany down nearly 5 percent in 2021

According to figures jointly released by the Federal Interior Ministry and the Federal Criminal Police Office in Berlin last week, 2021 saw 5.047.860 crimes reported to the emergency services, 4,9 percent fewer than in the previous year. For comparison, between 1992 and 2009, and 2014 and 2016, more than 6 million crimes were reported each year in the federal republic. 

The police also managed to solve more cases last year, with the clear-up rate rising to a new high of 58,7 percent. 1.892.003 suspects were identified, three quarters of whom were male.

Theft and burglaries down, pornography and cybercrime up

While rates of crimes like theft, burglaries and violent crime all fell in 2021, cybercrime and other criminal activities conducted via the internet rose last year. Authorities said this was both an indication of a “structural change in crime in Germany," and also an outcome of the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions to public life in place last year, which gave criminals fewer opportunities to commit crimes. 

Accordingly, the number of reported thefts fell by 11,8 percent and burglaries by 27,7 percent. Violent crime cases also fell by 6,8 percent to 164.646 cases. On the other hand, cases revolving around the dissemination of pornographic content rose by 87,8 percent, and the number of cases involving child pornography more than doubled. Cybercrime increased by around 12 percent. 

“We are a very safe country”

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser drew a broadly positive conclusion from the results, saying, “The crime statistics show a positive development in most areas… We are a very safe country and the rule of law is strong.” However, she said that she was deeply concerned about the “appalling extent of sexualised violence against children” and said that action against this had to be “top priority.” 

The President of the Federal Criminal Police Office, Holger Münch, praised the positive developments in violent and property crime, but also noted concerning developments in the rise of cybercrime. “In order to keep up, we have to quickly push towards digitalisation in police work,” he said.