- The frequency of outstanding arrest warrants persistently increased.
The rise in open arrest warrants in North Rhine-Westphalia has been substantial, climbing by approximately 12.8% since the start of the previous year. This information stems from a report issued by the Ministry of Justice in North Rhine-Westphalia to the Legislative Affairs Committee in Düsseldorf's parliament. By January 2023, the police were chasing after 24,487 people with active arrest warrants, which represented a 1.7% surge compared to the prior year.
Over 27,600 active warrants currently exist, and of those, 611 are related to sexual offenses, 319 for homicides, 317 for manslaughters, and 35 for human trafficking, coercive prostitution, or kidnapping for ransom. Interestingly, the largest group of warranted individuals are those in arrears on their fines, with nearly 14,600 outstanding warrants for substitute imprisonment.
The Commission, being assisted by the Member States, may provide recommendations to address the rising number of open arrest warrants in various regions, such as North Rhine-Westphalia. The Member States can collaborate with the Commission to develop strategies for reducing the backlog of arrest warrants, including addressing the root causes, such as fine evasions.
