Berlin sees surge in clan crimes, authorities intensify crackdown

In Berlin, so-called clan crime, which refers to crimes committed by family members, is on the rise. Investigators have recorded over a thousand crimes committed by clan members, an increase of up to 20 per cent compared to 2022.

According to "Deutsche Welle," the leader in clan crime is a 24-year-old linked to 65 crimes. These include credit fraud, theft, receiving stolen goods, embezzlement, drug trafficking, insults, and threats.

In 2023 alone, investigators recorded 1,063 such crimes committed by members of multigenerational families, often of Arab origin. This is almost 200 more cases than in 2022, a significant increase of over 20 per cent, according to the portal.

Nearly half of the identified suspects (45.2 percent) are German citizens. 23.2 percent – almost a quarter – are listed in the statistics as Lebanese or individuals with dual German-Lebanese citizenship. The statistics also include citizens of Turkey or German-Turkish (6.2 percent), Syrians (2.5 percent), and Swedes (1.3 percent).

Crimes committed by clan members constituted about 0.2 per cent of all crimes in Berlin in 2023. They accounted for 0.5 per cent of the number of suspects. German authorities have intensified coordinated actions against these groups only since 2018.

In terms of clan crime statistics, driving offences dominate (158 cases), followed by assaults (135), thefts and embezzlements (132), drug offences (112), and fraud (103). There were also 3 murders, 66 threats with weapons, and 41 robberies.

The "DW" portal adds that investigators often carry out the confiscation of clan property if there is suspicion that it comes from criminal activities. This measure is intended to be much more painful than imprisonment, which is often seen in this environment as an honour.

According to Deutsche Welle, clan crime involves criminal behaviours that act as a unifying element, facilitating the commission of crimes or hindering investigations. Critics argue that this term discriminates against migrants solely based on their family affiliation and origin.