Every day in Germany there are an average of 79 seizures using knives. Berlin has been reporting a significant increase in the number of such cases for years. For decades, Karsten Loest worked as a policeman and claims that as an officer of a special unit, Sek Berlin witnessed many life -threatening situations, including hostage kidnappings and gang attacks. He is currently the chairman of the Berlin initiative “Safe City” (Biss EV).
Welt: In recent weeks around the Berlin Humboldt Forum There were serious clashes between the groups using violence. Several people were wounded with knives, and a 20-year-old Syrian was also killed. Can more severe penalties help in preventing such fatal violence?
Karsten Loest: Some of them certainly cannot be stopped even with deterrent. However, I hope that raw penalties will make some to leave the knife at home. The problem is that before the police manage to draw up the appropriate report, the criminals will come back to the streets.
According to your proposal, suspended penalties would no longer be possible. You are demanding to introduce a new paragraph to the Penal Code regarding serious crimes using a knife, providing for at least three years imprisonment. You also think that it is necessary to define “cutting tools” as a deadly weapon. Why?
Such criminals show great cleverness and, in addition to knives, more and more often use items that are not covered by the weapon act. Policemen tell me that now many of them use scissors. They are spread into two parts, in this way they are easier to use. They also talk about screwdrivers that are as dangerous as knives. We need more legal clarity here.
Why do so many people reach for knives today?
The knives are now “fashionable”. I am also convinced that immigrants contribute to this. This is confirmed by criminal statistics.
We accepted people who grew up with knives – in their culture they are a symbol of social status and a means to gain respect.
At the same time, more and more people in our country say: having a knife in my pocket, I feel safer today, because if necessary I will be able to defend myself against the attacker. It is a spiral that is hard to get out of.
National crime statistics do not include data regarding the origin of suspected knife crimes. The analyzes of individual trade union countries are more detailed – in about half of the cases suspects are foreigners. It also means that about 50 percent Crimes are committed by Germany.
This is true and that is why the petition talks about criminal law, not almost about foreigners. The tightening of penalties applies to all perpetrators equally, regardless of their origin. But please look at the proportions: almost half of the crimes are committed by people who are not Germany, and foreigners constitute only 15 percent. the entire population. In my opinion, there is definitely a relationship between immigration and the number of crimes using a knife. But I will repeat: in criminal law and in terms of tightening penalties it does not matter.
Or maybe loud relationships in the media have a partially hysterical character? Crimes using a knife constitute only about 7.2 percent. all crimes with the use of violence.
The use of a knife has completely different consequences than a push or hitting someone. Attacks with a knife always have a potentially fatal effect. Just one push in the thigh, hitting the appropriate artery, and the victim will bleed in a very short time. That is why I think that it is right to devote so much attention to this phenomenon. I am also convinced that many attacks with a knife, especially in a criminal environment, where the goal is to intimidate the rival, is never reported.
For 25 years you served in the police, of which 11 years in sec. As a commander, you conducted investigations against gang criminals. What role did the knives play in the past?
Much smaller than today, at least I think so. Criminals I dealt with in the event of an escalation of the conflict sometimes relied on firearms. However, they mainly used their own fists. During the arrests, we found KASTETY or telescopic sticks in their cars. The knives sometimes scrolled, but not on such a scale as today.
You were dealing primarily with serious organized crime. Today, it seems that every second teenager carries a knife with him. This may be related to social media or hip-hop idols.
The knives are ubiquitous today and I am worried that the perpetrators are getting younger, some of them are still learning.
We must stop this trend. Many crimes with the use of a knife are crimes committed spontaneously. If someone carries a knife with them and finds himself in a situation that seems dangerous to him, will pull it out and use it.
One should hit more consciousness – a part of this change may be strict deterrent. Children and adolescents should be explained: if I carry a knife with me and use it, I will get to prison as an adult very quickly.
In recent years, politicians at federal and national level have adopted a number of new regulations – the so -called Safety packages. They talk about a ban on wearing knives in public places. Does it really work?
In my opinion, controls in the zones of wearing knives help maintain high pressure on potential perpetrators. The funds undertaken by the police should, however, be more targeted. There is no point in searching a 80-year-old woman on the way to a doctor just so as not to expose herself to the accusation of “racial profiling”. You have to trust policemen who, thanks to your experience in everyday work, know which controls can be effective. If we want Germany to become safer again, it is also necessary to monitor vision and use artificial intelligence.
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In the future, the federal government wants to equip the police at railizers with stun gun in the future. Are they effective against attackers armed with knives?
I am not in favor of the use of stun gun in case of attacks using knives. These devices are much more technically complicated, and therefore more susceptible to failures than ordinary firearms. Their effectiveness decreases when the attacker is wearing, for example, winter clothing or even a thick sweater. In extreme and dynamic situations, stun guns may also cause confusion with an officer who will not know which weapon to reach for.
It also increases pressure to the police: since now officers have an electric weapon, every policeman who will continue to use firearms will arouse suspicions.
As a former SEK officer, the Lord is trained in the case of a knife attack. What would you advise an ordinary citizen in such a situation?
A knife attacks are difficult to repel even for specially trained police forces. Citizens usually have no chance. If the attack is directed against us, the best reaction is to escape as soon as possible. Nobody should play a hero here. At the same time, of course, I would like us to support each other as a society and help ourselves when someone else is threatened. Personally, I would probably intervene, even if it would involve serious danger for me.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
