Baden-Württemberg: Majority doubts about the effectiveness of knife prohibition zones

Baden-Württemberg: Majority doubts about the effectiveness of knife prohibition zones

In Baden-Württemberg, current surveys show a skeptical image regarding the effectiveness of knife ban zones. According to a survey by the opinion research institute Insa on behalf of the AfD parliamentary group, 62 percent of the respondents believe that these measures cannot help against knife attacks sustainably. The AfD supporters in particular are critical: Almost 80 percent of them do not believe in the success of the prohibition zones. In contrast, 49 percent of the Greens supporters have similar concerns. The interior minister of the state, Thomas Strobl (CDU), had already issued measures to tighten weapons laws in order to prohibit the carrying of knives in buses and trains.

The skepticism of the population is in the context of a significant increase in knife attacks in public space, which in 2024 increased by 3.2 percent to around 1,300 cases. Around 40 percent of these acts are threats, a third represents dangerous assault. In addition, 20 percent of the knife attacks were classified as predatory offenses and 5 percent as murder or homicide. At the same time, the number of suspects in this area rose by 7.3 percent to around 1,240. In various cities, including Mannheim and Stuttgart.

crime in focus

The police crime statistics for 2024 shows further worrying trends in Baden-Württemberg. Politically motivated crimes have reached a new high: the review of the year 2024 results in an increase of 34 percent to 6,526 cases. This is attributed to the European elections and the escalation of the Middle East conflict. Interior Minister Strobl also warned of an increased threat from possible terrorist attacks in Germany. The main part of these politically motivated crimes was motivated right -wing extremist, and 2,640 of these offenses were attributed directly to right -wing extremist groups.

Another alarming aspect of crime statistics is the increase in knife attacks among young people. Especially among children up to 13 years, the number of attacks increased by almost 21 percent, while the group of 18 to 20 year olds recorded an increase of around 20 percent. In Heilbronn, even doubling the crimes of children and adolescents.

overview of the crimes in numbers

In addition to the increase in knife attacks, there is also a worrying increase in violence against police officers who rose by 7.2 percent in 2024 to almost 6,400 cases. In contrast, there was a decline in violence against rescue workers by 5.9 percent. In the crime in the Cybercrime area, an increase of 10.8 percent was recorded to around 15,000 cases, which resulted in financial damage of around 17.7 million euros.

The current developments in Baden-Württemberg raise many questions and show an increasing concern about the security situation. The government's measures, especially in relation to knife ban zones, arouse mixed reactions and it remains to be seen how crime will develop in the coming years.

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