The 2024 criminal statistics, published by the Federal Ministry of the Interior on Wednesday, show a growing disparity. The statistics reveal a significant difference in the proportion of foreign and asylum seekers among the accused of violent crimes compared to the general population.
According to the statistics, out of a total of 2,881 accused of murder, manslaughter and homicide, 44% are non-German and 15.3% are asylum seekers. In contrast, the proportion of non-Germans and asylum seekers in the general population is 14.9% and 3.9%, respectively, based on the data from the Federal Statistical Office for 2024.
This means that the probability of committing a crime in this category is almost three times higher for non-Germans and almost four times higher for asylum seekers compared to Germans.
The statistics show a significant difference in the entire area of violent crime. The number of violent crimes has increased, as acknowledged by the Federal Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser.
The statistics also highlight a significant increase in the number of rapes and sexual assaults, with a 9.3% increase compared to the previous year and a 32.6% increase compared to 2019.
Experts at the Federal Criminal Police Office attribute the differences to various factors, including the experiences of violence and psychological strain that some individuals may have faced in the past, which can affect their ability to build resilience.
Critics argue that the statistics should be viewed in the context of other factors, such as age, living conditions and social status and that the focus should be on integration and not on stigmatizing certain groups.
However, the statistics do not change the fact that the presence of asylum seekers has contributed to the increase in violent crime in Germany. The debate surrounding the statistics has been ongoing, with some arguing that the statistics are being used to fuel a negative narrative about asylum seekers, while others believe that the statistics should be viewed in a more nuanced light.