Criminality - 73 crimes against emergency services in Thuringia 2023
The number of attacks on Emergency Services and firefighters remains high in Thuringen. According to the Interior Ministry, the police recorded 73 such crimes last year, which is the same number as in 2022. Among these incidents were bodily harm offenses, threats, and extortions. Over 100 emergency services personnel were victims of crimes in 2023. The ministry was able to clarify almost all of these cases. 72 suspects were identified.
Violence against Emergency Services personnel of the Fire Department is unacceptable, said Interior Minister Georg Maier (SPD). "Those who threaten, spit on, or even physically attack those who want to help us in difficult, often life-threatening situations, cannot be justified in any way." No emergency services personnel should be a target of violence.
The ministry has been sensitizing the population for the work of emergency and rescue services since 2020 with a campaign. In addition, there is an internet portal that informs management and emergency services personnel about possibilities for violence prevention before, during, and after deployments.
The Fire Department in Erfurt, part of Thuringia's emergency services, has also been affected by these incidents. They reported instances of verbal abuse and minor property damages, which the local police classified as acts of criminality. Such overreaches towards the police and emergency services have become a concern, threatening the rescue power of these essential services.
The council in Thuringia is considering harsh punishments for those found guilty of assaulting emergency services personnel. It believes that such offenses should be treated as severe crimes to deter others from engaging in similar acts of violence.
The Thuringian Police Department and the Fire Department have been working closely to address this issue, conducting joint training sessions and awareness campaigns in Erfurt and other major cities. The goal is to strengthen the unity and understanding between the police and emergency services and the communities they serve.
Despite these efforts, the number of reported attacks on emergency services personnel continues to rise in Thuringia, underscoring the need for even more stringent measures to protect those who risk their lives to protect and serve the community.
