Enhanced Safety Measures for Knife Attacks: Suggested Strategies - Enhanced Security Measures to Combat Knife Attacks: Insights Revealed
In a shocking incident, a mentally ill woman indiscriminately stabbed and seriously injured 18 people at Hamburg's main train station on Friday evening. This brutal attack is the latest in a series of knife-related assaults that have recently transpired across Germany.
On Thursday, a 13-year-old emotionally wounded a 12-year-old classmate with a knife at a Berlin school. Over the weekend, a dispute between homeless individuals in Düsseldorf culminated in one man stabbing and severely injuring two others.
The surge in violent acts involving knives is not just a subjective fear. According to the latest crime statistics, incidents of dangerous and severe bodily harm have risen dramatically – almost eleven percent – last year. North Rhine-Westphalia experienced the most significant increase, with knife attacks increasing by nearly 50 percent. Currently, knives are involved in thirteen percent of all violent crimes. Approximately half of the perpetrators are non-German nationals.
Curbing knife violence is a pressing concern, and several potential solutions are currently under discussion. Below are four key measures being considered.
Expanded Knife Ban Zones
Already in place in many areas, knife ban zones prohibit carrying knives at certain times and locations, such as Düsseldorf's old town. Some federal states, like Brandenburg, do not implement these bans universally, circumscribing their enforcement to specific events or public transportation only.
CDU/CSU vice-faction leader responsible for interior issues, Günter Krings, advocates for extending these bans to certain locations. "A clear legal framework should be established," Krings told stern. "Anyone carrying a knife at large events, on school grounds, or in danger zones will face consequences."
The SPD's interior politician, Sebastian Fiedler, calls for a nationwide knife ban across Germany. "It is essential to ensure that fewer knives are carried on the streets," stated Fiedler. Pocket knives and work-related exceptions would be excluded from this ban, he added. The FDP has expressed resistance to a fundamental ban.
The police union (GdP) also supports a nationwide ban, with federal chairman Jochen Kopelke stating, "A nationwide ban can be an important step." Gun and weapon ban zones are considered "too narrow-sighted." Consistent controls, swift penalties, and targeted prevention are crucial for effectively addressing the rising knife violence and improving public safety.
Video Surveillance with Artificial Intelligence
The police union proposes implementing AI-powered camera technology equipped with behavior recognition at train stations and other public places. While video surveillance with behavior recognition would analyze and interpret both individuals’ movements and their behavior, traditional surveillance would only focus on recording people. This approach has already been suggested by some city officials, such as Hamburg’s Interior Senator Andy Grote (SPD). Currently, AI-based video surveillance is undergoing testing at a public location near the main station.
However, knife attacks tend to occur at close range, often silently, and can result in multiple severe injuries in just a few moments. Even if potential assailants could be identified, there might not be enough time to respond effectively.
Enhanced Threat Management and Police Presence
According to the SPD's interior expert, Sebastian Fiedler, there have been concerns about whether security authorities have seen potential attackers approaching. As a result, Fiedler calls for improved threat management by law enforcement agencies. "Standardized procedures should be implemented for hints regarding potential violent offenders," he suggests. "This range should begin with the standardization of language used and end with practical recommendations for subsequent action." Cases involving violent students, Islamist threats, and psychologically ill individuals would all be included.
The police presence at especially dangerous locations, such as airports and train stations, should be enhanced, according to Green Party lawmaker Konstantin von Notz. "I expect the Federal Minister of the Interior to ensure this, rather than jeopardizing it through questionable border controls," von Notz stated to stern. It is crucial to have motivated police officers on the ground, but many are resigning due to exhaustion from countless overtime shifts at the borders, he adds.
Meanwhile, CDU interior expert Krings thinks it is necessary not to lose sight of the aspect of migration. Krings notes that many recent offenders are known to the police, have previous convictions, and should have been deported from the country much sooner. The CDU/CSU plans to make it simpler to deport repeat offenders.
Better Care for the Mentally Ill
The assailant in Hamburg appears to have been mentally ill. The woman had been hospitalized at a psychiatric facility for three weeks before the attack but was released the day before. Similar indications of mental health issues were noted in previous knife-related attacks.
According to studies, the potential for violence among mentally ill individuals is slightly higher than in the general population. Researchers examined 35 mass shooters who had killed three or more people, and 28 of them had a psychiatric diagnosis.
The call from the psychological community is to focus on prevention and early intervention. Law enforcement agencies should work more collaboratively with mental health professionals, as the Union advocates. However, there is a lack of therapeutic resources, psychosocial support, and space in forensic facilities for mentally ill offenders.
Green Party MP Konstantin von Notz criticized, "Germany appears to lack sufficient medical resources to provide adequate care for mentally ill individuals." Addressing this issue requires increased investment in prevention, he maintains. "This may not seem very exciting initially, but it is essential for protecting the public."
The Union interior spokesperson, Alexander Throm (CDU), urges an honest debate on which groups predominantly perpetrate these attacks. Throm opined to Stern: "Before we can discuss anything, we must first ensure the safety of our country: Mentally ill violent offenders should not be on the streets, at least not unsupervised. And the disproportionately high percentage of foreign crime in this area requires a clear policy response on migration." Foreign violent offenders should lose their right to remain in the country, as agreed in the coalition accord.
The federal government's coalition committee will convene for the first time on Wednesday, where discussions on strategies to combat knife violence may be held.
- The surge in knife violence, as seen in various instances across Germany, has prompted calls for expansion of knife ban zones, such as those already in place in many areas, to certain locations like schools, large events, and danger zones.
- The CDU/CSU and SPD have suggested a possible nationwide knife ban, with pocket knives and work-related exceptions excluded, while the FDP has expressed reservations about a fundamental ban.
- In light of the rising knife attacks, AI-powered camera technology equipped with behavior recognition is proposed for implementation at train stations and other public places to better identify potential assailants.
- The psychological community has emphasized the importance of prevention and early intervention for the mentally ill, calling for collaboration between law enforcement agencies and mental health professionals, and addressing the lack of therapeutic resources, psychosocial support, and space in forensic facilities for mentally ill offenders.
