Overview

• Germany recorded an increase in knife-related crimes in 2023, with 8,951 cases of dangerous or severe bodily harm involving knives, a 9.7% rise from the previous year.
• The German Police Union has called for enhanced video surveillance, AI-based crime prevention tools, and stricter enforcement of weapons bans in designated zones.
• The ruling coalition accuses the opposition CDU/CSU of blocking expanded security measures, including biometric facial recognition and automated data analysis, in the Bundesrat.
• The CDU/CSU proposes classifying knife-related bodily harm as a felony with harsher penalties, while emphasizing the need for greater police presence and modernized investigative tools.
• Critics argue that measures like weapons ban zones and increased surveillance may infringe on civil liberties and fail to address root causes such as insufficient deportations or broader social issues.