More criminal and violent crimes by children and young people

Created: 06/01/2023 17:26

A blue light shines under the windshield of a police vehicle.

© Lino Mirgeler/dpa/symbol image

The number of criminal and violent crimes allegedly committed by children and young people has recently increased significantly in North Rhine-Westphalia.

This came out on Friday from data from the State Criminal Police Office of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Düsseldorf – In the first three quarters of 2022, a total of 13,191 criminal and violent offenses were identified nationwide in which the suspects were exclusively children (under 14 years of age).

That is 4919 cases or almost 60 percent more than in the corresponding period of 2021. Compared to the same period of the pre-Corona year 2019, that is 2481 cases or a good 23 percent more.

The number of criminal and violent offenses in which all suspects are young people (14 to 17 years old) rose to 41,027 in the first three quarters of 2022. That is 9494 cases or 30 percent more than in the same period in 2021. Compared to the same In the period of 2019 before the pandemic, there were 1,628 cases or a good 4 percent more.

The "Bild" newspaper previously reported on the recent increase and a reaction from Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU).

“Of course, at first glance, these numbers are worrying.

But in 2020 and 2021 was pandemic.

The people were at home," said Reul, according to the State Criminal Police Office.

This affects the crime situation.

“Nevertheless, we must not downplay the current development.

It has nothing to do with youthful carelessness," Reul said.

"We have criminal youth gangs in mind and must counteract the emergence of these dangerous groups with everything we have," emphasized the interior minister of the federal state.

dpa