Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister of the Interior, Dr Tamara Zieschang, and State Police Director Mario Schwan jointly presented the Police Crime Statistics (PKS) for 2025. A total of 172,776 criminal offences were recorded in Saxony-Anhalt last year.

That is 11,407 fewer cases than in the previous year. The number of offences recorded by the State Police had already fallen by five per cent in 2024, and in 2025 it fell by a further 6.2 per cent.

Minister for the Interior Dr Tamara Zieschang: “2025 was another challenging year for our State Police.

Even though the number of offences has fallen slightly, the fact remains that behind every statistic there are people and their lives. Our police force works resolutely and effectively every day to ensure safety in Saxony-Anhalt. For this, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all my colleagues in the State Police. To carry out their important work, they must continue to be well-equipped and expand their workforce.”

The overall trend in crime in 2025 must be assessed against the backdrop of a nationwide change in the recording of offences committed at unknown locations. Previously, offences committed at unknown locations were classified as domestic offences; they are now recorded in a separate PKS foreign statistics category.

These include offences committed abroad but whose consequences or infringement of legal rights affect Germany or Saxony-Anhalt (e.g. call centre fraud schemes). Even when domestic and foreign offences are considered together, there remains a slight decrease in crime of 0.6 per cent.

In 2025, a higher clearance rate was recorded compared with the previous year. This stood at 57.4 per cent in 2025, making it the highest clearance rate since 2012. In 2024, the clearance rate was 55.3 per cent.

In 2025, the police solved 99,167 cases (2024: 101,923).

In total, 63,873 suspects were recorded in the PKS last year. In the previous year, the figure was 67,886. This represents a decrease of 5.9 per cent. 78.9 per cent of the identified suspects were adults, 6.8 per cent were young adults, 8.9 per cent were adolescents and 5.3 per cent were children.

In 2025, 16,764 non-German suspects were registered (2024: 20,115), including 10,774 immigrants (2024: 13,809). The proportion of non-German suspects (including violations of immigration law) thus fell to 26.2 per cent.

In the previous year, the figure was 29.6 per cent. The proportion of immigrant suspects also fell and now stands at 16.9 per cent (2024: 20.3 per cent). Excluding breaches of immigration law, the proportion of non-German suspects stands at 22.7 per cent (2024: 23.7 per cent) and that of immigrants at 12.9 per cent (2024: 13.7 per cent). In 2025, the most common countries of origin for non-German suspects were Syria (3,096), Romania (1,420), Ukraine (1,312), Poland (1,260) and Afghanistan (1,075).

In the case of property and forgery offences, the state police recorded the highest proportion of non-German suspects in 2025 at 33.5 per cent (2025: 4,415, 2024: 4,851), followed by robbery offences at 32.6 per cent (2025: 275, 2024: 335) and theft offences at 30.0 per cent (2025: 3,448, 2024: 3,515).

The Ministry of the Interior and Sport has instructed the police authorities of the state of Saxony-Anhalt to, as a matter of principle, state the nationality of the suspect in press and public relations work in future, provided that this does not jeopardise investigations or conflict with data protection regulations.

Minister for the Interior Dr Tamara Zieschang: “By stating nationality, we aim to ensure transparency and put a stop to speculation about the origin of suspects. Our citizens have a right to know what crimes are being committed and who is committing them.”

On specific categories of crime:

Last year, 33,438 offences against personal liberty and violent crimes were recorded. This represents an increase of 2.2 per cent, or 735 cases, compared with the previous year. At 20,426 cases, the number of assaults remained roughly at the previous year’s level (2024: 20,144). The number of threats has risen (2025: 8,818, 2024: 8,199, up 7.5 per cent). These are increasingly taking place online (2025: 1,429, 2024: 1,135). Robbery offences, on the other hand, have fallen significantly. In 2025, 1,105 cases were recorded, 203 fewer than in the previous year (a decrease of 15.5 per cent).

Theft offences also accounted for just under a third of all recorded crimes in 2025, with 56,649 cases. In 2025, the total number of recorded theft offences fell by 1,763 cases, or three per cent, compared with the previous year.

There was a particularly sharp decline in bicycle thefts (down 10.2 per cent), thefts from or involving motor vehicles (down 12.4 per cent) and thefts from ground-floor or basement rooms (down 16.1 per cent). The number of shoplifting offences, by contrast, remained virtually unchanged (2025: 11,214 cases, 2024: 11,137 cases).

Recorded property and forgery offences fell significantly again in 2025 – by 21.6 per cent to a total of 24,215 cases (2024: 30,897).

The main reason for this is the change in PKS recording described at the outset. This has led to a sharp decline in fraud offences recorded as domestic crimes (down 29 per cent). Many offences are now shifting to the digital sphere and are committed from abroad or from an unknown location, which is why they are recorded in the PKS as foreign offences. The total loss from property and forgery offences has risen sharply, reaching €90,337,484 in 2025 (2024: €65,106,852). This points to an increasing professionalisation of the perpetrators, who are also making greater use of AI technologies for deceptively realistic scams.

In the area of ‘grandparent scams’ and ‘shock calls’, a significant decline in cases continues to be recorded. The number of cases fell from 463 (of which 405 were attempted) in 2024 to 156 cases (of which 101 were attempted) in 2025. Despite this decline, the financial loss caused rose significantly here too – from €959,034 to €1,524,203.

The State Police attaches paramount importance to combating and preventing fraud offences and participates in targeted campaigns and nationwide initiatives, particularly to protect older people.

It raises public awareness through comprehensive information services – ranging from advice on scam calls to tips for safe online use.

There has been a 14.1 per cent increase in the number of cases involving offences against sexual self-determination (2025: 3,803 cases, 2024: 3,334 cases).

The largest proportion consists of offences relating to the distribution of pornographic material, which rose by 32.8 per cent to 1,921 cases (2024: 1,447).

Of these alone, 1,792 cases were committed via the internet. To counter this, the state police organised a digital prevention week in 2025, aimed at raising awareness among children, young people, parents, grandparents and teachers about the responsible handling of image and video files. This increased awareness contributes to a greater willingness to report offences and thus to reducing the number of unreported cases.

The number of cases of child sexual abuse has fallen to 441. This represents a decrease of 13.7 per cent compared with 2024 (511 cases). A slight decline is also evident in the number of rapes. In 2025, 352 cases were recorded, representing a decrease of 2.5 per cent compared with the previous year (361 cases). In the case of sexual harassment, 607 cases were recorded (2024: 576). The clearance rate for this category of offences stands at 82.7 per cent, which is higher than the previous year’s figure of 79.9 per cent.

In the category of ancillary criminal laws, there was a sharp decline in case numbers from 14,813 cases in 2024 to 10,993 cases in 2025. This represents a decrease of 25.8 per cent. Supplementary criminal laws are special laws in force alongside the Criminal Code that define their own criminal offences, such as the Narcotics Act or the Residence Act. One of the reasons for the decline in case numbers in this area is the significant decrease in immigration law violations by 41.2 per cent (2025: 3,765 cases, 2024: 6,408 cases). This is linked to the significant decline in irregular migration.

The number of drug-related offences also continued to fall. This is attributable, among other things, to the partial legalisation of cannabis on 1 April 2024.

A total of 4,544 cases were recorded last year (2024: 5,887). This represents a decrease of 22.8 per cent. General offences under the Narcotics Act in 2025 were primarily crimes related to methamphetamine (2025: 1,222 cases, 2024: 1,080 cases) and amphetamine (2025: 839 cases, 2024: 788 cases). The illicit trade and smuggling of narcotics also fell – from 598 cases in 2024 to 379 cases in 2025.

At 687.4 kg, the quantity of cannabis seized is at its highest level since 1992. This represents an increase of 17 per cent compared to 2024 and is almost three times the figure for 2023 – the year prior to the partial legalisation of cannabis. Significant increases were also recorded for amphetamines (2025: approx. 388 kg, 2024: approx. 100 kg) and cocaine (2025: approx. 19 kg, 2024: approx. 7.5 kg). In 2025, the number of drug-related deaths rose to 61 (2024: 48).

The number of drug-related deaths marks a tragic record high.

State Police Director Mario Schwan: “The significant rise in the quantities of cannabis, amphetamine and cocaine seized demonstrates how consistently and successfully our State Police are tackling drug-related crime.

In 2025 alone, cannabis worth around 6.9 million euros, cocaine worth 1.4 million euros and amphetamines worth 3.5 million euros were seized. The record quantities of cannabis illustrate that partial legalisation has not weakened the black market, but has given it a significant boost.”

In the area of domestic violence, the number of cases rose by 5.1 per cent (2025: 8,819, 2024: 8,391). A total of 9,185 victims were recorded, 5.2 per cent more than in the previous year (2024: 8,735).

Whilst the number of cases of intimate partner violence rose by 5.4 per cent to 6,024 cases (2024: 5,716), those involving domestic violence increased by 4.4 per cent to 2,895 cases (2024: 2,772). Increased public awareness campaigns and information on support services may have had a positive influence on victims’ willingness to report incidents. The amendment to the Saxony-Anhalt Public Safety and Order Act, passed by the state parliament in March, significantly strengthens the protection of victims and potential victims of domestic violence.

Minister for the Interior Dr Tamara Zieschang: “The continued rise in cases of domestic violence is shocking. Victims of violence need protection. Victims of violence must be able to move about freely. That is why it was so important that we created the legal basis for the state police to technically monitor compliance with restraining orders and contact bans in future, and that the victim also receives a warning notice.

It is now also possible to set up comprehensive data and transmission blocks for potential victims and to provide victims, their relatives or other close associates with a temporary cover identity.”

In the area of offences involving acts of resistance against police officers, rising case numbers were recorded in 2025. A total of 1,050 cases were recorded (2024: 951), representing an increase of 10.4 per cent compared with the previous year.

At the same time, the number of police officers affected rose significantly. 2,220 of them were victims of violence in 2025 (2024: 1,957). That is 263 more victims, or 13.4 per cent, than in the same period the previous year. Attacks and acts of resistance against emergency medical services personnel also rose by 11.5 per cent to 87 cases (2024: 78), whilst the number of attacks on firefighters fell (2025: 8, 2024: 16).

Minister for the Interior Dr Tamara Zieschang: “Violence against our emergency services is completely unacceptable and cannot be justified under any circumstances. These men and women stand up for our safety every day. They deserve our utmost respect and support. Anyone who attacks police officers must expect severe consequences.”

State Police Director Mario Schwan: “We are specifically strengthening the protection of our colleagues through modern equipment and clear legal frameworks. With the amendment to the Security and Public Order Act, we have created the conditions for the use of modern equipment. The widespread introduction of stun guns and bodycams will further enhance the safety of our officers and expand their scope for action.

We are resolutely continuing along this path of consistent modernisation.”

The number of incidents in which a knife attack was directly threatened or carried out against a person has fallen. In total, the police recorded 876 cases of knife attacks last year. In 2024, the figure stood at 936 cases (a decrease of 6.4 per cent).

In 505 cases, knives were used in threats (2024: 481, an increase of 5 per cent). There were significant decreases in offences involving the use of a knife, particularly in cases of robbery (a decrease of 30.8 per cent) and bodily harm offences (a decrease of 15 per cent). This brings the number of cases to its lowest level since 2021. The proportion of non-German suspects in this category of offences rose from 34.4 per cent to 39.9 per cent. The largest group of non-German suspects, accounting for 29.6 per cent, are of Syrian origin. Of the victims, 28.2 per cent are of non-German origin.

The number of cases involving juvenile crime has fallen again – from 16,333 cases in 2024 to 15,825 cases in 2025 (a decrease of 508 cases or 3.1 per cent). In this context, there has also been a 4.9 per cent decline in the number of suspects identified.

In 2025, 10,270 suspects were identified (2024: 10,796). The number of non-German suspects has also fallen – from 3,366 in 2024 to 2,899 in 2025. This corresponds to a decrease of 13.9 per cent. Among adolescents, the proportion of non-German suspects stands at 33 per cent; among young people, it is 32.5 per cent. If one considers the proportions without taking into account violations of immigration law, 27.0 per cent of adolescent suspects and 22.6 per cent of young suspects are of non-German origin.

In the area of violent crime among young people, fewer cases were recorded again in 2025. With 1,327 offences – a decrease of 4.5 per cent compared with 2024 – the upward trend that had persisted since 2021 was broken. The decline is particularly marked in the case of robbery offences.

The number of cases fell from 300 in 2024 to 230 in 2025 (a decrease of 23.3 per cent).

Robbery offences thus account for 17.3 per cent of violent youth crime. Dangerous or serious bodily harm continues to represent the largest proportion of all violent youth offences at 75.2 per cent and remained roughly at the previous year’s level (2025: 998, 2024: 1,003). The number of rape cases, by contrast, rose by 27.5 per cent – from 69 cases in 2024 to 88 cases in 2025.

The total number of suspects identified in relation to youth violent crime fell in 2025. Among young people (aged 14 to under 18), a decrease of 8.9 per cent was recorded. With 878 suspects, they continue to represent the largest group of suspects. The number of adolescent suspects (aged 18 to under 21), however, rose slightly to 584 individuals (up 2.5 per cent). In 2025, 466 non-German suspects were recorded. This is 7.9 per cent fewer than in the previous year and the first decline since 2021. They account for 31.9 per cent of all suspects in the area of youth violent crime.

State Police Director Mario Schwan: “It is encouraging that the figures for youth crime and violent youth crime have fallen. The State Police will not slacken in the fight against youth crime. That is why we are focusing specifically on educational work. A holistic, professional approach to prevention is essential to prevent ‘criminal careers’.”