Overview

• Destatis reported 5.49 million new procedures and 5.46 million completions in 2024, leaving a net increase of about 27,400 or 3%.
• Completed investigations under the Narcotics Act fell 26% to roughly 315,000 after the April 2024 cannabis reform.
• About 60% of investigations were discontinued, around 7% led to indictments or special procedures, and approximately 10% resulted in penal order applications.
• Roughly 83% of completed investigations originated with police referrals, with the remainder initiated by prosecutors, tax or customs investigators, or administrative authorities.
• The most common focuses were property and asset offenses (about 1.55 million, 28%), road traffic offenses (923,000, 17%), and crimes against life and bodily integrity (524,000, 10%).