Current situation

Violence against police officers is a persistent phenomenon. Year after year, police officers risk their health and lives in the line of duty.

The number of violent crimes against police officers has been at a very high level since 2012 and rose steadily to 9,241 cases in 2019. In 2020, there was a noticeable decline for the first time with 8,078 recorded cases, which continued in 2021 with 7,564 cases. A significant increase to 8,264 cases - and thus 9.25% more than in the previous year - was recorded again for the first time in 2022. With the increased number of cases, the number of police officers as victims of violence also rose significantly in 2022 compared to the previous year to 20,163 (+10.89%). Acts of violence against police officers are mainly characterized by the offenses "resisting law enforcement officers and persons of equivalent status" and "assaulting law enforcement officers and persons of equivalent status". The increase is likely to be due, among other things, to the revival of social life following the lifting of restrictions in connection with the coronavirus pandemic and does not deviate from the national trend. The clearance rate remains at a very high level.

In total, 3,786 police officers were injured in the course of their duties in 2022, 17 of them seriously.

Detailed analyses of offences, victims and perpetrators as well as brief factual descriptions of outstanding cases can be found in the respective "Violence against police officers" situation reports.