The Environmental, Health, and Consumer Protection Panel has approved numerous modifications.
Berlin's Mayor Kai Wegner criticizes the Federal Minister of Interior Nancy Faeser's strategies to combat knife crimes in Germany as weak. In a preview, Wegner told the "Rheinische Post": "We shouldn't focus on the size and length of knives, we should talk about the origins and the groups behind these crimes, and ensure that no one carries knives at all."
Wegner, a CDU politician, voiced his strong support for a total ban on carrying knives. He admitted that enforcing such a ban in a city like Berlin would be challenging. However, he referenced the success of joint patrols by federal and Berlin police at the U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations, suggesting a need to intensify these efforts.
"It's Not Just About Pocket Knives"
According to Berlin's Police Chief, the perpetrators are mostly young, male, and come from a migrant background. Wegner added: "When we talk about knife attacks, we're not talking about pocket knives. There's a circulation of combat knives and even machetes. Those who carry a knife are ready to use it. Therefore, we need to act decisively."
In an interview with ntv.de in June, Berlin's Police Chief Barbara Slowik mentioned that the police crime statistics distinguish between German and non-German suspects. Overall, violent crimes have increased in recent years, including those committed by non-German offenders in the capital, according to Slowik. Non-Germans are overrepresented. "In a nutshell, violence in Berlin is young, male, and has a non-German background," said Slowik. This trend also applies to knife violence.
The Federal Minister of Interior Nancy Faeser might consider involving the police more extensively in addressing the issue, given Wegner's assertion that the origin and groups behind knife crimes are crucial. In response to the rise in knife attacks, it's essential for law enforcement to tackle the circulation of combat knives and machetes, as highlighted by Berlin's Police Chief.
