2025 figures: Drop in theft offences / Clear-up rate remains steady

The number of crimes recorded by the police continued to fall in Brandenburg last year. According to the 2025 Police Crime Statistics, it fell by 5.7 per cent to 166,508 offences (2024: 176,641 offences). Excluding immigration offences, the figure of 151,124 offences (2024: 156,720, -3.6%) marks a historic low. The clearance rate stood at 57.7 per cent (2024: 58.4%).

Minister for the Interior Dr Jan Redmann: “The positive trend from last year has continued and the overall number of offences has fallen once again – this good news for Brandenburg applies, for example, to theft offences just as much as to cases of domestic violence or offences against victims in schools. However, I view the renewed rise in the number of violent crime cases with concern. And even though the number of attacks on police officers has fallen slightly, it remains at a high level, just like the number of violent acts against fire and rescue services. Every attack on those who, with the greatest personal commitment, work day in, day out for the safety and health of our population, is one too many.”

Police Chief Oliver Stepien: “The falling overall number of crimes is good news. It is partly due to changes in the broader context, such as the partial legalisation of cannabis. The rise in residential burglaries highlights a trend that we must analyse very closely on an ongoing basis. The perpetrators operate across regions, professionally, and are constantly developing new methods. In addition to police measures, every individual can help reduce the risk of a burglary by taking security precautions. I therefore recommend the free technical advice offered by our colleagues in the Prevention Unit.”

Specific developments in detail

Theft offences account for just under a third of total crime, with the number of cases falling by 4.5 per cent (2024: 53,021; 2025: 50,612), thus almost reaching the low point recorded in 2021 (50,572). Compared to 2011, cases fell by 39.5 per cent (-32,993) by 2025. In particular, the number of car thefts has fallen (2024: 2,180, 2025: 1,724; -20.9 per cent). The number of bicycle thefts stands at 7,548 (2024: 8,591, -12.1 per cent) and is thus lower than ever since records began. By way of comparison: in 1996, 29,392 cases of bicycle theft were recorded. By contrast, the number of residential burglaries has risen (2024: 2,557, 2025: 3,164, +23.7%). Two-thirds of residential burglary cases occurred in the municipalities and towns within the immediate metropolitan area surrounding Berlin (2025: 2,074 cases).

Although the number of offences against residence, asylum and freedom of movement laws fell by 22.8 per cent to 15,384 in 2025 (2024: 19,921), it remains at a high level. The clearance rate in this area stands at 98.9 per cent (2024: 99.6 per cent); the clearance rate excluding breaches of immigration law has risen by 0.2 percentage points to 53.5 per cent.

Cases of violent crime remain at a high level and have risen by two per cent to 5,443 (2024: 5,335). The most common scene of violent crime, accounting for almost a quarter (24.3 per cent) of cases, is the home. Cases of domestic violence fell by 5.2 per cent to 6,434 (2024: 6,790). Investigations into the deaths of five female victims of domestic violence were concluded in 2025. The term ‘violent crime’ encompasses various completed or attempted offences that fall under the category of medium to serious violent crime – such as grievous bodily harm, murder, manslaughter or rape.

The number of victim offences in schools fell by 52 cases (-3.3%) to 1,531, with the number of cases of intentional simple bodily harm in a school context also falling by 11.6 per cent to 754 cases (-99). By contrast, the number of suspects rose (1,591, +15), whilst the number of victims fell by 147 to 1,732. The number of victim offences remains at a high level, with more than one in ten victims being a teacher.

Following last year’s peak, acts of violence against police officers have declined (2024: 1,492, 2025: 1,365); however, this is the second-highest figure ever recorded, corresponding to around four cases per day in which police officers are attacked. In the case of acts of violence against fire and rescue services, the peak figure from 2024 (72) has risen once again to 73 cases.

Offences against sexual self-determination increased by 18.5 per cent in the reporting year compared with the previous year, to 3,344 cases (+522). This trend was primarily attributable to an increase in cases involving the distribution, acquisition, possession and production of child and youth pornography. In more than half of these cases, the suspects were minors (under 18 years of age).

For the sixth consecutive year, a decline in drug-related crime has been recorded (2024: 4,953; 2025: 3,045, -38.5%), with the partial legalisation of cannabis in April 2024 having an impact on a full statistical year for the first time in 2025. The number of drug-related deaths rose by two compared with the previous year to 19.

Background

The PKS is a so-called initial statistics report. This means that it reflects offences that have come to the attention of the police and been processed by them, including punishable attempts and drug offences processed by customs, and that statistical recording only takes place upon referral to the public prosecutor’s office.

The PKS report in German language is available here.