Results of the first state-wide safety survey in Baden-Württemberg: A look at the security situation

January 17, 2025

In autumn 2023, the first state-wide safety survey was conducted in Baden-Württemberg, providing important insights into the population’s sense of security and experience of crime. More than 35,500 citizens from 110 communities took part in the representative study, which was conducted by the Institute for Criminological Research Baden-Württemberg (KriFoBW) on behalf of the Ministry of the Interior, for Digitisation and Municipalities. The results of the survey provide valuable insights into the security situation in the state and open up starting points for future measures to improve public safety.

Key findings of the survey

1. High sense of security and trust in the police: The overwhelming majority of respondents feel safe in Baden-Württemberg. Around three quarters of the participants stated that they generally trust the police and the justice system. This is a positive signal and indicates that the state is well positioned in terms of objective security. The trust in the police is also reflected in the perception of their work: almost 80 per cent of those surveyed praise the police for their good work in solving crimes.

2. Police presence and crime prevention: Another key finding of the survey is that the police are perceived by the population as being accessible and effective. Around 75 per cent of those surveyed believe that the police are quickly on the scene when needed. In addition, a majority of respondents believe that the police do a good job of solving crimes. Nevertheless, there is still room for improvement in terms of police visibility: only about half of the respondents consider the police presence in public spaces to be sufficient. This could indicate that, particularly in urban areas, more attention should be paid to the presence of police forces.

3. Insecurity in public spaces and on public transport: People’s sense of security varies depending on the context. Many respondents feel less secure at night and on public transport than in their residential area. This is a typical phenomenon that is frequently observed in other studies on the topic of security. A notable difference is apparent between the genders: women report feeling insecure more often than men in public spaces. This imbalance should not only be taken into account in security policy considerations, but also in preventive measures to promote subjective security.

4. Digital crime as a growing problem: One significant result of the survey concerns the perception of crime in the digital space. Although around 75 per cent of respondents feel safe in the ‘online space’, a significantly different picture emerges when it comes to the use of social media. Almost half of the respondents stated that they feel unsafe in social networks. There is likely to be a growing need for action here, particularly in the area of education and prevention of cybercrime, cyberbullying and data misuse.

5. Dark figure and insufficient reporting rates: The high number of unreported crimes that are not reported is particularly alarming. For example, only 22 per cent of fraud offences, such as phone or text message scams, are reported. In the area of digital crimes, such as data misuse, only about 30 per cent of cases were reported. The low reporting rate is particularly serious in the area of sexual harassment and threats on the internet: here, only about 5 per cent of victims report a crime. This suggests that many victims either out of fear, shame or mistrust of the police do not report it. This represents a significant challenge for law enforcement authorities, who increasingly depend on opening up these dark fields in their work.

Security policy assessment and recommendations

The results of the security survey show a generally positive security situation in Baden-Württemberg, but they also raise pressing questions that should be addressed at the political and societal level.

1. Strengthening police presence and security perception: To increase the sense of security, particularly in urban areas and at night, the police should further expand their presence in public spaces. This could be done by increasing patrols, increasing visibility on public transport and making greater use of modern surveillance technologies. At the same time, it is important to promote positive perceptions of the police through regular dialogue with the public and to further strengthen trust.

2. Improving the fight against cybercrime: The increasing insecurity in the digital space calls for increased prevention and education about the risks on the internet. More should be invested in digital security education, particularly in schools and among older generations, who are often the target of online fraud. In addition, the police should expand their resources to combat cybercrime and ensure that digital crimes are also consistently prosecuted.

3. Increasing the willingness to report and supporting victims: In order to reduce the high number of unreported crimes, measures must be taken to encourage victims to report them. This includes raising public awareness of the importance of reporting crimes and fostering relationships of trust between the police and citizens. In particular, in areas such as sexual harassment or threats on the internet, targeted awareness campaigns and low-threshold reporting options should be used to strengthen trust in the police.

4. Gender-specific security measures: In view of the different ways in which women and men perceive security in public spaces, it is necessary to address the specific needs of women. This could be done by providing safe, well-lit public spaces, supporting women’s emergency hotlines and creating women’s networks within the police force.

Conclusion

The first security survey in Baden-Württemberg provides important insights into the security situation in the state. Despite the overall positive perception of the security situation, there are clear indicators for a need for action, particularly in the area of digital crime, the clarification of unreported cases and the promotion of the sense of security in certain population groups. The survey should serve as a valuable basis for developing targeted security policy measures that further strengthen both the objective security and the subjective sense of security of citizens.

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