Bavaria remains one of Germany’s safest federal states. According to the 2025 Police Crime Statistics, the crime rate in the Free State – apart from the Covid-19 year of 2021 – is at its lowest level since 1978. Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann presented figures in Munich showing a fall in case numbers, a rising clearance rate and extensive security policy measures.
In 2025, the Bavarian police recorded 4,094 offences per 100,000 inhabitants (excluding immigration offences such as illegal entry or residence). This represents a decrease of 4.8 per cent compared to 2024, when 4,300 offences per 100,000 inhabitants were recorded. At the same time, the clearance rate rose by 1.1 percentage points to 66 per cent. The public also views the security situation positively: according to BayernTrend by Infratest dimap, around 80 per cent of respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with security and public order in the Free State.
Violent crime also showed a positive trend. The number of cases fell by 4.5 per cent to 21,667 offences (2024: 22,693). Around 79 per cent of these were cases of dangerous and serious bodily harm. As violent crime often takes place in public spaces, the police are stepping up prevention efforts at railway stations and in city centres. Measures include joint foot patrols with the Federal Police, drug detection dogs, exclusion zones for alcohol, cannabis and weapons, as well as targeted operations by closed units of the Bavarian riot police. At the same time, CCTV surveillance is being expanded: it is already permanently installed at 17 locations – including Munich, Regensburg, Augsburg and Coburg.
Recorded drug-related crime fell significantly. At 22,631 cases, it was around 27 per cent below the previous year’s figure of 31,145 offences. Interior Minister Herrmann attributes this development largely to the legal changes regarding the handling of cannabis, which came into force on 1 April 2024. At the same time, he emphasised that the new regulations create additional control and surveillance tasks for the police and may make it more difficult to combat certain offences.
The statistics also reveal changes in the profile of suspects. A total of 254,759 suspects were identified in 2025. The proportion of non-German suspects stood at 41.7 per cent (2024: 41 per cent), whilst the number of German suspects fell by 2.8 per cent, or 4,321 individuals. At the same time, the proportion of non-German residents in Bavaria has risen to 15.6 per cent since 2010. Romanian nationals were particularly frequently recorded among non-German suspects. In connection with migration, Herrmann points to rising deportation figures: in 2025, they were around 21 per cent higher than the previous year, with around 40 per cent of those deported being offenders. At the same time, he welcomed the extension of internal border controls by Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, as well as the planned implementation of the reform of the Common European Asylum System.
Following the significant decline during the Covid years, there has been a slight rise in residential burglaries. In 2025, the police recorded 3,806 cases, an increase of 5.6 per cent compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, the figure remains well below the 2019 level. Almost one in two offences remained at the attempted stage. The clearance rate rose to 23.1 per cent (2024: 22 per cent), whilst the value of stolen goods and financial losses amounted to 29.2 million euros. A total of 835 burglars were identified, more than half of whom were non-German suspects, often from Central and Eastern Europe. The police are responding with more intensive random checks and increased patrols in residential areas.
Crime remains a significant issue in the digital sphere too. The number of internet offences fell by 3,088 cases in 2025 to 41,829 offences. Around 60 per cent of these cases were solved. However, the resulting damage rose to 55.9 million euros (2024: 48.9 million euros). At the same time, the police continue to assume a high number of unreported cases, as many cybercrimes are not reported.
A central pillar of the Bavarian security strategy remains the expansion of police staffing. Between 2008 and 2025, around 8,700 additional posts were created. With more than 45,700 posts, the Bavarian police force reached a new high in 2025. The 2026/2027 biennial budget also provides for a further 200 additional posts to further strengthen the security structure in the Free State.
