The surge in critical cases among juvenile lawbreakers in Lower Saxony has exceeded twofold.
By the close of 2023, over 195 young offenders with an intense criminal record under 21 years old were enumerated in Lower Saxony, representing a substantial jump from the previous year's figure of 108. The Hanover Interior Ministry highlighted that this significant increase wasn't attributable to a surge in criminal activities.
The police data indicated that a considerable uptick in the number of such offenders transpired around this time. By the last day of 2023, 195 individuals had been recorded, a considerable leap from the prior year's count of 83 in 2019, 70 in 2020, and 84 in 2021.
In the majority of cases, these offenders were male, although 9 female offenders or young women also made the list. A ministry spokesperson credited the cops' dedicated efforts in tracking down criminal youth groups and optimizing their internal protocols and data collection for the rapid escalation in numbers.
The spokesperson clarified that the surge in numbers wasn't solely a reflection of a shift in crime dynamics. Intensive offenders are people who are classified as having a high crime potential due to their extensive criminal history, a high volume of crimes within a short span, or an especially grave individual case.
In parallel, the Lower Saxony Interior Ministry maintains a registry of adult intensive offenders aged 21 and above. Unfortunately, as the data for this new list is yet to be analyzed, no trend analysis can be conducted at this time.
According to the recent data, 151 male and 9 female adult offenders were reported as adult multiple or intensive offenders by the close of 2023. The ministry failed to provide information on their age range and the nature of the crimes. However, it was confirmed that the intensive offenders were spread across the entirety of Lower Saxony, with no particular area emerging as a significant hotspot for criminal activity.
The police played a crucial role in tracking down criminal youth groups, contributing to the significant increase in young offenders. Due to the police's efforts, the number of recorded intensive offenders under 21 years old rose considerably.
