Germany’s interior minister called the report published on Monday about a record number of almost 3,000 attacks on federal police officers last year a “shocking record”.
Nancy Faeser made her comments in the port city of Rostock in eastern Germany during a presentation of data showing that 2,979 officers were attacked in 2023, according to the annual report of the Federal Police for that year.
Nearly 25% (93 officers) were injured, a record high since data collection began in 2001. The figures showed that 11% (88 officers) were injured so seriously that they were unable to work.
According to the federal police, the attacks almost always involved physical violence and usually took place during routine tasks, especially while on patrol, conducting criminal investigations or supervising deportations.
The Federal Police is responsible for border control, including train stations and airports. A significant number of attacks occurred during railway operations. Incidents also occurred during events and football matches.
The report found that a large majority, or 78%, of the attackers were men, with an average age of 33. Nearly half were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Many were known to the police, almost a quarter were repeat or serious offenders. Almost half of the attackers had German passports.
So far this year, there have been more than 400 physical attacks on Federal Police officers, resulting in serious injuries, Federal Police Chairman Dieter Romann said during the presentation.
“A young police officer did not survive this year,” he said.
More illegal entries recorded
Officers have recorded significantly more illegal entries, with 127,549 cases. That is the highest number since 2016 and an increase of around 39% compared to 2022. However, many of these people are staying in Germany for the time being.
Border controls are taking in more people
Since mid-October last year, there have been border controls with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. At the Austrian border, there have been controls since September 2015.
Between October 16, 2023 and the end of the year, the federal police detected 18,930 illegal entries at all four border sections.
According to the report, 9,626 people were denied entry. Those who apply for asylum can stay provisionally and undergo a procedure. The Federal Police have arrested a total of 440 smugglers.
There were other successes for law enforcement, the data showed. Federal police discovered 11,721 people on a wanted list, with 1,966 outstanding arrest warrants executed.
In addition, 1,237 property searches were carried out, during which stolen passports or cars were found. Checks at the Austrian border are currently reported to the EU Commission in Brussels until mid-November, and those with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland until mid-December. However, the checks have been extended several times in the past.
Faeser made it clear that she plans to maintain these controls until significantly fewer people enter Europe illegally. She said that Germany accepts far more migrants than other countries, which is unfair.
“I no longer want to accept this distribution of numbers within Europe,” she said.
Number of deportations in Germany is increasing
The number of deportations from Germany rose to 21,206 last year, up from 18,094 the year before. A total of 4,776 people were sent back at the border in 2023. However, the plan was to deport 52,976 people. One reason this has not happened, Faeser and Romann said, is the lack of detention facilities for deportations.
Federal police officers spent significantly more than half of their 4 million working hours on migration last year, 2.7 million hours, officials said.
Approximately 560,000 hours were spent on football matches. There are 54,723 employees in the Federal Police.
Increase in violent crime at train stations
The number of violent crimes at train stations rose by 11% in 2023, from 23,110 in 2022 to 25,640. Large stations are particularly susceptible to violent crime.
According to the report, 425,090 crimes took place at train stations and on trains.
