Frankfurt's train station district: crime and integration in focus!

Frankfurt's train station district: crime and integration in focus!

An explosive topic that is a topic of conversation in Germany and here: migration and crime. Kurt Caz, a South African-German travel blogger, has made a video denouncing Frankfurt's train station district as being riddled with drugs, crime and illegal migrants. This video has been making the rounds, quickly amassing over six million views on YouTube and more than ten million on TikTok. But how dangerous is it really in Germany? [DW].

In urban hotspots such as Berlin, Bremen or Frankfurt am Main, crime rates are higher than in rural regions. This is often attributed to social inequality. Despite these concerns, Germany is still considered a “very safe country”. Crime has experienced a decline since the 1980s and 1990s, and the murder rate is 0.91 per 100,000 residents in 2024, ranking 147th in the world.

Migration and its challenges

The discussion about migration and crime has become increasingly emotional in recent years. However, analysis shows that a smaller proportion of migrants become criminals, and the overall crime rate among this group generally remains stable. Reports of crimes committed by immigrants often represent only the tip of the iceberg. Circumstances such as stressful life situations and the age and gender composition play an important role. bpb points out that adults with access to the labor market rarely commit crimes.

The increase in juvenile crime among 12 to 15 year olds since 2022 could also be seen in this context. Nevertheless, the majority of young people with a migrant background do not commit crimes and the social conditions, access to education and the integration of children from newly immigrated families are crucial for the development of crime.

Prejudices and reality

Public perception is strongly influenced by the media. Emotionally charged reporting on alleged links between migration and crime often leads to distorted views. According to studies by the ifo Institute, there is no significant increase in crime due to the influx of migrants. Nevertheless, migrants are overrepresented in crime statistics, with factors such as the high proportion of young men in these groups playing a role. [DInstitut](https://www.dinstitut.de/balance-zwischen-sicherheit-und-integration-deutschlands-chaus Challenge-given-gehender-debatten-uber-diebstahl-und-migration/) explains that social and economic tensions, not exclusively migrant status, can be the causes of crime.

Increasing crimes, especially thefts, are due to structural problems and not just to immigrants. In order to promote a differentiated view of the issue, we must highlight the successes of integration and demand targeted measures to improve living conditions.

Ultimately, the challenge remains to find a balance between security and social inclusion. Politicians and scientists emphasize the need for integration measures to ensure social peace and to take the population's fears seriously. As criminologist Nicole Bögelein notes, it is crucial to distinguish between structural trends and individual cases - this is the only way to make well-founded decisions for the future of society.