Overview
- Authorities highlight a recurrent spike in incidents over the Christmas period, with Berlin police counting more cases between 23–27 December than in comparable November days in recent years.
- The BIG hotline is available 24/7 in more than 50 languages at 030 611 03 00, and contacts typically increase after the holidays when victims can safely make calls.
- Demand has climbed steadily: BIG recorded a 17% rise in annual calls from 8,042 in 2022 to 9,419 in 2024, with roughly 700–900 calls handled each month.
- Berlin’s shelter capacity remains insufficient at about 507 places versus roughly 960 recommended under Istanbul Convention guidelines, prompting daily refusals for about 10–15 people seeking protection.
- The city plans to open a ninth women’s shelter with around 55 beds in the first quarter of 2026, while police and advocates urge immediate calls to law enforcement in acute situations and note that offenders can be removed from the home.