Overview
- Federal police figures report about 212,300 violent crimes in 2025, down 2.3% year on year, with roughly 14,200 child suspects and about 5.5 million total offenses recorded.
- Analysts and officials say partial cannabis legalization shrank recorded drug offenses, which pushed the overall total down without proving streets are safer.
- Bavaria’s new intelligence report cites rising political crime and more foreign-led espionage, sabotage and disinformation, with 8,700 politically motivated offenses counted statewide.
- A public clash between Economics Minister Katherina Reiche and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil over an over‑profit tax and jet‑fuel supply has escalated, with BILD reporting that Klingbeil froze five of Reiche’s energy projects.
- Debate over youth crime is intensifying as experts from the German Youth Institute urge prevention and early support in place of harsher penalties or a lower age of criminal responsibility.