In Lower Saxony, the count of juvenile delinquents requiring critical care has doubled.
The number of recurring lawbreakers among youth in Lower Saxony's records surged past the yearly limit by over 100 in 2023. A total of 195 young individuals were flagged as repeat offenders, surpassing the 2022 count by a significant margin, as disclosed by the Internal Affairs department in Hanover following a query. The majority of these individuals were male, with nine female youngsters or women also included.
Before and during the pandemic, the tally remained relatively low: 83 in 2019, 70 in 2020, and 84 in 2021. A spokesperson for the department attributed this dramatic escalation to successful investigative efforts by local police forces, particularly in tracking and apprehending criminal youth groups, as well as enhancements in in-house operations and data collection procedures.
The spokesperson went on to explain that the surge in numbers was not solely due to a rise in crime itself, but rather the result of the police's sharpened focus on repeat offenders. These individuals are categorized as having a remarkable level of criminal propensity, either due to their substantial overall criminal record or their tendency to commit numerous crimes in a short timeframe, or their involvement in notable individual cases.
Furthermore, the office has also established a registry for adult repeat offenders in Lower Saxony, aged 21 and older. This newly established catalog, as reported by the Internal Affairs department in Hanover, does not yet offer any pertinent information about trends.
By the end of 2023, 151 men and 9 women were identified as adult repeat offenders, with no age-related details or specifics on the nature of the crimes disclosed by the department. The spokesperson confirmed that these repeat offenders were spread out all over Lower Saxony, and there were no notable crime hotspots to be found.
The spokesperson highlighted the role of local police forces in tackling recurring offenses, stating that their successful investigations led to an increase in apprehensions of criminal youth groups. The Police have been instrumental in identifying and bringing to justice repeat offenders, who have shown a notable propensity for criminal activity.
