Germany's 2024 Crime Report Shows Decline in Total Crime but Surge in Violence

Violent crimes, including attacks on police officers, reached record highs as overall crime fell, driven by cannabis legalization.

Germany's overall crime rate dropped by 1.7% in 2024, largely attributed to the partial legalization of cannabis, which reduced drug-related offenses.
Violent crimes increased by 1.5%, with over 217,000 cases reported, marking the highest level since 2007.
Crimes against police officers rose by 5.1%, totaling 109,545 cases, with new categories like sexual insults contributing to the increase.
Knife-related violence accounted for 6.3% of completed violent crimes, while firearm-related threats and incidents also saw a rise.
The German Police Union and Interior Ministry are advocating for stricter penalties, faster prosecutions, and knife bans to address the growing violence.