Criminality - Two cities fight against Kotau-droplets
Shortly after they've been administered, they're already in the vials: K.-o.-Drops. Two projects are currently running in Ulm and Freiburg to help those involuntarily given K.-o.-Agents with tests and care in a low-threshold way.
Under K.-o.-Drops, one understands various substances that can render a person incapacitated and defenseless. It is crucial for the documentation of crimes involving K.-o.-Drops to provide proof that such substances were indeed administered. Since they are only detectable in urine and blood for a few hours, time plays a significant role in testing. The projects in Ulm and Freiburg are therefore offering free tests.
The environment should be sensitive
However, the step towards testing is not simple. "I believe it's also important to note that one must first register what happened," says Diana Bayer, head of the Ulm Women's Bureau. The environment often does not react sensitively. "Come on, that wasn't really that bad" or "you drink that stuff anyway" are common phrases that disconcert victims. It is often too late for testing then. The campaign therefore aims to sensitize the environment as well.
In Ulm, according to city officials, the Institute for Legal Medicine at the University Clinic, the city, and the Women's Association are working together to help women. The University Clinic, the Bundeswehr Hospital, and the Donau-Clinic in Neu-Ulm are therefore involved. Victims could be tested and cared for there.
The University Clinic Freiburg reports that it collaborates with bars and clubs. There, test kits are given to suspects. According to the University Clinic, the substances can usually be detected well if a urine sample is taken within twelve hours.
The tests are free for the potential victims in both cities, according to the initiators. Elsewhere, people have to pay for the samples themselves - which can be expensive. Bayer from the Ulm Women's Bureau estimates the costs in most cases to be around 270 Euro. Anette Thierauf-Emberger, Medical Director of the Institute for Legal Medicine in Freiburg, explains that extensive testing will be carried out within the project. Costs of around 1500 Euro are incurred.
The Criminal Investigation Office (LKA) recorded 184 cases last year in which certain substances, which are considered K.-o.-Agents, were entered as the means of the crime in the statistics. The spokesperson noted that the entry of the means of the crime is not mandatory. Therefore, the number of cases in the pandemic years was lower. In 2019, the LKA reported 191 cases according to its own statements. The majority are sexual and violent offenses, such as bodily harm, for example. The spokesperson emphasizes that there is a high degree of darkness in these areas.
If there is no subsequent crime after the administration, it will be difficult to notice that one has been a victim of K.-o.-Drops, the spokesperson says. Reports can be made if a bodily harm has occurred.
According to Anette Thierauf-Emberger, the offer in Freiburg has been accepted. She reports that about 150 test kits have been distributed since the beginning and nearly ten samples have been submitted. "All of these were obtained within a short time frame after the affected individuals experienced unusual symptoms, so it seems that the approach is working well," she says. "No substances were detected in the samples that were not intentionally consumed by the affected individuals." This is an important result.
However, the Women's Office received a lot of support for the campaign from people who report having been affected themselves, explains Diana Bayer, the leader. Bayer emphasizes that, no matter how vigilant one is, something can still happen. She stresses: "You cannot blame the victims: You didn't pay enough attention."
- The projects in Ulm and Freiburg, specifically in Freiburg, collaborate with bars and clubs to provide test kits for suspects, ensuring that potential victims in these establishments have access to immediate assistance.
- Diana Bayer, head of the Ulm Women's Bureau, pointed out the challenges faced by victims, including insensitive reactions from the environment such as dismissing incidents as not being "that bad" or implying that victims are responsible for their own situation.
- The Criminal Investigation Office (LKA) reported a significant number of cases involving K.-o.-Agents in Baden-Württemberg, with a marked decrease in reported cases during the pandemic years due to the non-mandatory entry of the means of the crime in statistics.
